#YAWO – Yet Another Water Outage
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality wishes to provide residents with a comprehensive update on the current water supply challenges affecting large parts of the metro.
Despite the metro’s dams being at full capacity following the heavy flooding experienced during the first week of May 2026, residents continue to experience intermittent water supply, low water pressure and, in some areas, complete water outages. These disruptions are the result of several operational challenges that have severely impacted the city’s ability to produce and distribute treated water consistently.
Key Factors Contributing to Water Supply Disruptions
1. High Turbidity in Raw Water Sources
The severe flooding significantly increased the turbidity (mud and sediment content) of raw water entering the treatment works. Existing treatment infrastructure was not designed to process water with such extreme turbidity levels, resulting in treatment plants operating at reduced efficiency and producing less than half of their normal output at certain times.
2. Power Supply Interruptions
Critical water infrastructure, including the Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works, Lorrie Water Treatment Works, Motherwell Booster Pump Station and Schoonie Pump Station, experienced intermittent power disruptions during May and June. These interruptions affected both water production and the ability to pump water to reservoirs across the metro.
3. Chemical Supply Challenges
The treatment of drinking water relies on a consistent supply of specialised chemicals. Delays in deliveries, logistical challenges, quality concerns and contractual issues have resulted in intermittent shortages, reducing production capacity at treatment facilities.
4. Excessive Water Consumption
Current daily water consumption in Nelson Mandela Bay is approximately 380 million litres per day, significantly exceeding the target demand of 280 million litres per day. This excessive demand places immense pressure on an already strained system and contributes to reservoir depletion.
Reservoir Levels Critically Low
The cumulative impact of these challenges has left many strategic reservoirs operating at critically low levels, with some reservoirs nearly empty. The water supply system is currently operating under severe strain, making it highly vulnerable to any operational interruption.
Particularly concerning reservoir levels include:
- Chelsea Reservoir – 7%
- Emerald Hill Reservoir – 2%
- Heatherbank Reservoir – 3%
- Lovemore Heights Reservoir – 4%
- Gelvandale Reservoir – 2%
- Greenbushes Reservoir – 13%
- Fort Nottingham Reservoir – 7%
- Fairview Reservoir – 11%
- Rosedale Reservoir – 0%
These low levels are affecting water supply across multiple zones and suburbs throughout the metro.
Areas Experiencing Water Interruptions and Low Pressure
Residents in the following areas are currently experiencing no water or low water pressure:
- Parts of Rosedale
- Kabah and Langa
- Mountain View
- MacNaughton
- Fairbridge Heights
- Motherwell
- iKamvelihle
- Wells Estate
- Bluewater Bay
- St George’s
- Walmer Township
- Walmer (7th to 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
- Bridgemead
- Hunters Retreat
- Kabega
- Parsons Ridge
- Parsonsvlei
- Francis Evatt Park
- Morningside
- Baywest
- Sherwood
- Lorraine
- Malabar
- Barcelona
- Gelvandale
- Walmer Heights
- Greenshields Park
- Fairview
- Walmer Downs
- KwaNobuhle
Immediate Interventions Underway
To stabilise the system and support affected communities, the municipality is implementing several emergency measures:
Deployment of water tankers to priority areas experiencing prolonged outages.
Continuous optimisation of water treatment and pumping operations to maximise available supply.
Close monitoring and management of reservoir levels across all supply zones.
Ongoing efforts to secure and stabilise chemical supplies required for water treatment.
Public awareness campaigns encouraging residents to reduce water consumption.
The municipality urgently appeals to all residents and businesses to use water responsibly and avoid unnecessary consumption. Every litre saved helps preserve reservoir levels and improves the municipality’s ability to maintain supply to all communities.
Residents are encouraged to report water leaks immediately and to limit water usage to essential household needs only while the system remains under severe pressure.
The municipality acknowledges the frustration and inconvenience experienced by residents and assures communities that all available resources are being mobilised to restore stability to the metro’s water supply network.
