The picturesque town of Knysna, a jewel on South Africa’s famed Garden Route, is facing an imminent water catastrophe that could see taps run dry within weeks. A combination of severe drought, crumbling infrastructure, and decades of neglect has pushed this tourist haven to the edge, with local authorities declaring a state of disaster to marshal resources against a potential “day zero.”
At the heart of the crisis is the Akkerkloof Dam, Knysna’s primary water source, which held only 20 days’ worth of reserves as of late January. Compounding the shortage, an estimated 55-56% of treated water is lost through leaky pipes and burst mains, a staggering waste that undermines conservation efforts. Moreover, thousands of households lack functioning water meters, making it nearly impossible to track consumption or enforce restrictions effectively.
The water losses are symptomatic of long-term operational failures, with municipal infrastructure left to deteriorate over years. Mayor Thando Matika, in office for 11 months, acknowledges inheriting a system on the brink, where even boreholes drilled in 2009 are no longer operational. In response, the national government has released an emergency $1.25 million to fund urgent repairs, including fixing seven boreholes and a desalination plant, while hydrologists assess options for a new dam and water recycling projects.
Daily life for Knysna’s 100,000 residents has been disrupted by stringent water rationing, capped at 50 liters per person per day—far below the average usage in developed nations. For the elderly and vulnerable, such as those in a local retirement center that endured a 10-day outage last October, the crisis is a dire reality. Owner Franco de Grandis invested heavily in backup tanks after that ordeal, highlighting the personal costs of municipal failure.
Non-governmental organizations like Gift of the Givers have stepped in, delivering thousands of liters of water via tankers to assist those without means for private solutions. Their coordinator, Mario Ferreira, notes the grim normalization of water queues, emphasizing that access to water is a basic right increasingly out of reach. In nearby townships like Khayalethu, irregular supply is a chronic issue, with residents long accustomed to carrying buckets to municipal tankers.
The tourism sector, vital to Knysna’s economy, is on edge as the “day zero” rhetoric sparks cancellations and anxiety. Elmay Bouwer of the Great Knysna Business Council urges a focus on water preservation rather than panic, working to assure international visitors while adhering to restrictions. The scenic beauty that draws global travelers now underscores the urgency of sustainable resource management.
This crisis echoes Cape Town’s near-miss with “day zero” in 2018, serving as a stark warning for South Africa. Dr. Ferial Adam of Watercan points out that for millions nationwide, water insecurity is a daily reality, with half the population lacking running water at home. The confluence of climate change, infrastructure decay, and access inequalities creates a “melting pot of problems” demanding systemic solutions.
Looking ahead, Knysna’s immediate plans include installing missing meters, drilling an additional borehole, and exploring long-term dam construction. However, the broader lesson is clear: without sustained investment and proactive maintenance, more South African towns will face similar crises, turning scenic spots into symbols of resource scarcity.
