Contractors hired by the Eden District Municipality have begun drilling for supplemental water supplies for George and Knysna as the worst drought in more than a century continues unabated in the Garden Route.

With dam levels at about 20%, additional water sources are critical to the survival of some towns.

Eden Mayor Leon Dorfling visited the drilling sites on Friday and said the primary responsibility for water supply in the area rested with the George Municipality.

However, in view of the critical situation, Eden had decided to step in and take the initiative, using funds diverted from other, less important projects.

“We will be spending about R3,5- million in George and a further R3-million in Knysna to drill and equip the boreholes. Other service delivery should not be affected as we have asked other departments to economise and find the investment from existing budgets,” he said.

A Cape Town consultant has been employed to recommend sites for drilling operations where water is most likely to be found.

During a site visit to one of the boreholes in George on Friday, geo- hydrologist Roger Parsons said aerial photographs had been studied for rock formations likely to contain aquifers.

“We know the Cape Folded Mountains, of which the Outeniqua range forms a part, contain three geological groups – Cape granite, the Kaaimans group and the Table Mountain group. Table Mountain rock usually contains substantial water deposits, which we hope to be able to tap into,” he said.

Drilling started last Wednesday at two sites on the mountainside behind George, adjacent to the existing water treatment plant. At least three other suitable sites have been identified in the area. Drilling will also start soon at Knysna.

Sites have been chosen on the basis of likely water deposits, proximity to existing water treatment plants and passable road access.

By Friday, the first two boreholes were down to 80m, with water visible, and were planned to continue to a depth of 200m to 300m. Parsons said it was impossible to be exact about the boreholes’ likely maximum flow, but he was hoping for about five litres a second. This would supply up to 500 homes per drilling on restricted usage.

Source: The Herald