Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
What (a) operational plans, (b) financial plans and (c) processes are in place to address the provision and quality of water in Witsand, especially during holiday season time?
The town of Witsand is situated at the mouth of the Breede River and falls within the jurisdiction of the Hessequa Municipality. The town is a popular holiday destination and the land-use is mainly residential with no major industries. According to the 2011 Census Witsand had a population of approximately 368 people, with the current estimated population being 383 people.
According to the 2011 DWS report on the Development of Reconciliation Strategies for all Towns in the Southern Planning Region: Summary Report – Eden District Municipality, and the 2014 draft updated reconciliation strategy for Witsand, the town receives water from Overberg Water Board which is purified water from the Duiwenhoks River. A borehole is also used to augment the Overberg Water supply during holiday peak periods. The water is generally of good quality. However, the borehole water quality is not good, having relatively high concentrations of manganese and iron.
The town of Witsand has been identified as one of the towns within the Hessequa Municipal jurisdiction at risk of experiencing a shortfall of water. Shortfalls are currently experienced during the summer holiday periods. This is usually addressed by water restrictions. The shortfall could increase if the development boom along the coast continues.
According to the 2014 draft updated Reconciliation Strategy for Witsand the condition of the bulk reticulation network and municipal equipment and facilities are well maintained. However, low pressures are experienced in the network during the peak seasons. There are currently no MIG (or RBIG) funded projects for water supply infrastructure for Witsand. (I Toerien, DLG, pers comm).
The 2014 draft updated Reconciliation Strategy for Witsand recommended the following specific interventions for implementation, in order of priority and implementation sequence:
- Implement Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Strategy
- Increase allocation from Overberg Water
- Groundwater development of the Bredasdorp Aquifer.
- Groundwater development of the TMG Aquifer.
- Desalination (longer term).
- Rainwater harvesting.
Assistance with operational issues - in the form of support to reach Blue Drop accreditation and including treatment interventions for borehole water - should also be investigated in collaboration with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the department of Local Government (DLG) and the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA).
