Concern About KZN's Water Supply

Despite the nationwide drought being broken more than a year ago, farmers in KwaZulu-Natal remain deeply concerned about the future of the province’s water supply.

- Lloyd Phillips

Many areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have continued to experience below-average water supply, and organised agricultural bodies are concerned that this would be the new normal.

Sandy la Marque, CEO of the KZN Agricultural Union (Kwanalu), which represents primarily larger-scale farmers, told Farmer’s Weekly that some Kwanalu members were still operating under self-imposed water restrictions, as well as those set by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), due to the lingering after-effects of the drought.

“In some areas, water resources remain low and are well below where they should be. In most areas, the management of water resources by the agricultural sector is being conducted in a responsible manner,” she said.

This was confirmed by Steve Gillham, general manager of engineering and scientific services at bulk water supplier, Umgeni Water. He told a media briefing held recently at Albert Falls Dam in KZN that the 50% water restriction set by Umgeni Water for farmers in its supply area since March 2016 was still in effect, as were the restrictions for industrial and residential users, due to ongoing water availability constraints.

HIGH DEMAND