The Western Cape Government have released R200 million in emergency funds to help drought stricken towns build boreholes in key area’s to give some relief.
The Western Cape have identified four towns in desperate need of water. These four towns are on the brink of having no water. The emergency funds will be used to drill boreholes in key area’s within each of these towns to provide much needed water.
The boreholes will be installed near schools and hospitals. The four towns being helped out are Beaufort West, Kannaland (Ladismith), Knysna and Bitou. The government will also be focusing on medium risk towns such as the West Coast and Cape Winelands districts and Hessequa, Oudtshoorn and George in the southern Cape.
“We are working with these municipalities to drill boreholes, equip pump stations and lay pipelines where required. Schools and hospitals in priority areas have been identified for borehole drilling,” – Colin Deiner, the provincial disaster management chief
The four towns will be fitted with the following:
- Beaufort West – eight boreholes were equipped and connected with a new pipeline laid to Kleinhansriver pump station
- Knysna – Charlsford and Eastford supply schemes are being upgraded and the desalination plant is being refurbished
- Bitou – 12 boreholes are being drilled and equipped
- Kannaland – a temporary pipeline is being installed to move a water abstraction point. Channels and pipes are being repaired.
“These municipalities have an estimated supply of about three months of water. Beaufort West and Kannaland are in very dry parts of the province generally,”
“In the case of Knysna the system has historically allowed for only 90 days of reserves, but risk levels have heightened and supply interventions are under way.”
The focus hasn’t only been on domestic water usage. The provincial agriculture department have also been helping small hold farmers. They have been providing animal feed to nearly 1300 farmers at around R11 million a month.
We are happy to hear that these areas are receiving a helping hand.
by 