The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s water supply system continues to operate under severe strain. Although electricity supply to the Elandsjagt and Kariega water infrastructure was restored yesterday afternoon, the road to recovery remains long.
The system has been further impacted by the collapse of one of the final high-lift pumps at Nooitgedagt yesterday, reducing pumping capacity from an average of 200 megalitres per day to approximately 180 megalitres per day. This reduction is affecting the amount of treated water entering the distribution system, leaving the network highly vulnerable to operational interruptions. As a result, many areas across the metro continue to experience low water pressure or intermittent water supply.
Water Supply Status
KwaNobuhle Reservoir: Levels have improved significantly, resulting in recovery across most of the supply area. All consumers should now have water.
Fairbridge Heights and Van Riebeeck Hoogte: These supply zones have stabilised and all consumers should have water.
Rosedale, Kabah and Langa: Water supply has improved considerably, with restoration continuing across the affected areas. Consumers in higher-lying areas may still experience low water pressure or temporary interruptions while the system stabilises.
Chelsea Reservoir: Levels remain critically low and water disruptions continue to affect the supply zone.
Greenbushes: The reservoir is currently at 29%. Low reservoir levels continue to affect parts of the supply zone, including St Albans, Rowallan Park and surrounding areas. Operational adjustments have been implemented to support system recovery.
Airport and Driftsands: Reservoir levels remain low at approximately 5% and 31% respectively. Operational teams have adjusted pumping operations to the Airport Reservoir and continue to monitor the system closely to minimise disruptions.
Motherwell: Reservoir levels continue to improve and are currently at 51%. Consumers in higher-lying areas may still experience reduced water pressure while the network stabilises.
Gelvandale and Struandale Supply Zone: Reservoir levels currently stand at 5% and 57% respectively. This extensive supply area, which includes Deal Party, Swartkops, Zwide, KwaZakhele, Algoa Park and Missionvale, has experienced regression due to high water demand, causing reservoirs to deplete rapidly during peak consumption periods. Most consumers in this zone are currently without water, while operational teams continue to monitor the system closely.
Chatty: The Chatty Reservoir and Reservoir Hills system remains unstable, with sporadic water disruptions continuing across the supply zone. However, supply into Chatty has stabilised over the past 24 hours, and consumers, including Reservoir Hills, are receiving water.
Emerald Hill: The reservoir has been depleted and is currently at 3%, resulting in water disruptions across the Emerald Hill supply zone. Subsidiary reservoirs supplied from Emerald Hill remain stable; however, the loss of production at the Elandsjagt Water Treatment Works has had a significant impact on the system.
Lovemore Heights and Heatherbank: These supply zones remain stable.
Current Reservoir Levels
- Chelsea – 8%
- Emerald Hill – 3%
- Greenbushes – 29%
- Gelvandale – 5%
- Malabar – 10%
- Struandale – 57%
- Airport – 5%
- Driftsands – 31%
- Rosedale – 0%
- Chatty – 65%
- Motherwell – 51%
- Bloemendal – 28%
- Heatherbank – 18%
- Lovemore Heights – 52%
- Upper Tank – 67%
- Fairview – 45%
- Fort Nottingham – 48%
- Glendinning – 68%
- Van Riebeeck Hoogte – 44%
- Fairbridge Heights – 43%
- KwaNobuhle 4 – 52%
- KwaNobuhle 3 – 83%
- KwaNobuhle 2 – 28%
- KwaNobuhle – 72%
These low reservoir levels continue to affect water distribution across several supply zones throughout the metro.
Areas Experiencing Low Water Pressure or Intermittent Supply
Residents in the following areas may continue to experience low water pressure or intermittent water supply:
- Parts of Rosedale, Kabah and Langa
- Mountain View
- MacNaughton
- Fairbridge Heights
- Motherwell
- iKamvelihle
- Wells Estate
- Bluewater Bay
- St George’s
- Walmer Township
- Walmer (7th–14th Avenue)
- Glen Hurd
- Newton Park
- Schauderville
- Mangold Park
- Greenacres
- Perridgevale
- Adcockvale
- Parsons Hill
- Glendinningvale
- Mill Park
- Linkside
- Mount Croix
- Richmond Hill
- High-lying areas of Central
- Rowallan Park
- Greenbushes
- Bridgemeade
- Hunters Retreat
- Kabega Park
- Parsons Ridge
- Parsonsvlei
- Francis Evatt Park
- Morningside
- Baywest
- Sherwood
- Lorraine
- Malabar
- Barcelona
- Gelvandale
- Bloemendal Extensions
- Chatty
- Booysens Park
- 7 Delaan
- Walmer Heights
- Greenshields Park
- Fairview
- Walmer Downs
- KwaNobuhle
- Interventions Underway
Municipal operational teams continue to implement measures to stabilise the water supply system by:
- Deploying water tankers to priority areas experiencing prolonged outages.
- Optimising water treatment and pumping operations to maximise available supply.
- Continuously monitoring and managing reservoir levels across the metro.
- Working with Eskom to safeguard power supply to critical water infrastructure.
- Securing and maintaining chemical supplies required for water treatment.
- Encouraging responsible water use through ongoing public awareness initiatives.
The Municipality appeals to all residents and businesses to use water sparingly and avoid all non-essential water consumption while the system remains under pressure. Every litre saved contributes to maintaining reservoir levels and improving water availability across the metro.
Residents are also encouraged to report water leaks immediately to assist in reducing unnecessary water losses.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality acknowledges the frustration experienced by affected communities and assures residents that every available resource is being utilised to restore stability to the metro’s water supply system as quickly as possible. Further updates will be communicated as more information becomes available.
