Knysna steps up water restrictions as crisis deepens

KNYSNA has ramped up its drought response by moving to level four water restrictions, as the municipality formally declared the Garden Route town a water-stressed zone.

- BRANDON NEL

The move comes ahead of the busy holiday season and follows months of dwindling supply, mounting infrastructure strain and repeated water emergencies.

Mayor Thando Matika said the declaration was necessary to open the way for national and provincial intervention while the municipality works to stabilise its own systems.

“The Knysna council at its meeting (on Tuesday) declared the greater Knysna municipality as a water-stressed area,’ a statement from the municipality said.

Matika, in the same statement, said Knysna’s water infrastructure, especially in town, has been under “tremendous pressure’, with teams working around the clock to deal with constant call-outs.

“The Garden Route District Disaster Management Centre was mandated, in consultation with the Knysna Local Disaster Management Unit, to coordinate the short-term as well as mediumterm interventions needed to address this crisis,” he said.