Cape Town - Nelson Mandela Bay's water situation looks even worse than the one in Cape Town - with locals being urged to take preventative measures.
New water projects have been launched in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) in the hopes of fighting the effects of the drought. The situation is dire, despite recent heavy rain and flash floods.
It was reported last week that two farm towns in the Eastern Cape might see Day Zero even sooner with the Kouga dam at a critically low level - a 'historic low level'.
SEE: Two Eastern Cape towns to see 'Day Zero' sooner than Cape Town
The Heradlive reports that these projects are designed to ensure that schools and construction work in the metro remain open during the drought season.
Measures include drilling more boreholes, changing bylaws overseeing building sites, as well as the construction of three desalination plants. Phase 3 of the Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works is also headed towards completion.
Added to that, boreholes will be provided for all schools and amending bylaws to ensure all future building plans include a rainwater tank with a minimum 500-litre capacity.
The work on Nooitgedacht was brought to a temporary standstill last week when the national government indicated it would cut funding. - See News24's report.
ALSO SEE: SA Water Crisis: 60 litres a day for PE and the rest of the Bay
Dam levels highlighted
As of Monday, 05 February, the city’s major storage dams are at 26.14% of their total combined capacity - that's up more than 0.67% from last week.
However, NMB says although the level of Loerie dam has increased, it is a small balancing dam and unfortunately does not change the water disaster situation Nelson Mandela Bay is currently in.
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