Drought has not been broken
For the farming community, winter rain always spells good news as it is not subject to evaporation
THE heavy rains that fell over the past week brought with them both blessings and hardships.
For the farming community, winter rain always spells good news as it is not subject to evaporation.
However, for many vulnerable communities, the downpour resulted in loss of property and possessions, displacement from their homes, exposure to the harsh elements and even real physical danger.
Rain gauges measured over 500mm in places – but sadly not in the main catchment areas.
The heaviest falls were recorded in the coastal areas, while the catchments, especially surrounding the Goedertrouw Dam – the region’s prime drinking water source – received virtually none.
It needs to be said out loud: the drought has not been broken!
The dam now stands at 31% capacity and with the area not being noted for winter rainfall, it leaves us in a precarious position as far as water security is concerned.
The amount of water required by users of the dam, which includes the farming, industrial and domestic sector, will soon exhaust that supply.
Added to this is the disturbing delay on the implementation of the Tugela Transfer Scheme, which will double the amount of water supplied to Goedertrouw from the Tugela River.
This ‘emergency’ project should have been up and running months ago, but has been bogged down by red tape, with no communication been given to the media or public by the Department of Water and Sanitation.
We remain at a level four restriction and this is not going to change for the better in the foreseeable future.
Not only should the Tugela Transfer Scheme be fast-tracked for short- to medium-term water security, but a permanent answer to the region’s growing demand for this indispensable resource should receive top priority.
Besides the obvious life-giving function water serves in the lives of all our communities, both industry and agriculture are the catalysts for economic growth and job creation in the region and without water neither will be able to fulfil this function.
We repeat: do not be misled by the recent rains. We are still in the midst of one of the worst droughts in living history and water saving remains our top priority.
