Knysna Municipality: Addressing Water and Waste Challenges

19 February 2024

Addressing Knysna’s Water and Waste Management Challenges

Knysna Executive Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa has addressed the causes of the delays in refuse collection and the recent interruption to the water supply to certain areas of the town. “We have restored the levels to our reservoirs and resumed water supply to most of the affected areas,” he said. “We are evaluating several options to ensure that this issue is not repeated in the future. We are also looking at short-, medium-, and long-term solutions to the waste removal problem. It is, however, important that the residents of Knysna are made aware of the factors that have led to these problems.”

Water Supply Challenges

The Hornlee area has experienced significant development in recent years, accompanied by the construction of numerous informal structures throughout the Northern areas of Knysna. This surge in development has placed a considerable strain on our aging water infrastructure, which is over 30 years old. The aged system is prone to burst pipes and leakages due to neglect under previous administrations.

One ongoing challenge is water storage, with reservoirs quickly depleting once water is pumped in. To address this, an additional pipeline from The Fisherhaven Reservoir will be linked to the Sunridge Reservoir to enhance capacity, and water will be abstracted from the Bigai Spring to supplement the supply to the Hornlee area.

Load shedding severely affects our pumping capabilities, as demonstrated during the Stage 6 load shedding from 9 – 11 February, leaving Knysna without electricity for 12 hours per day. While the Garden Route District Municipality provided generators, sourcing appropriate ones remains challenging.

Vandalism and theft of infrastructure further compound water storage issues and disrupt supply. Addressing these incidents diverts funding from other projects or delays essential maintenance.

A shortage of specialized staff also contributes to the problem. To address this, 15 technically qualified staff members will be appointed, and plumbing teams will be doubled to ensure prompt responses to pipe issues.

However, the overarching challenge remains funding. Efforts to secure grants and explore public-private partnerships are underway to address this issue in a phased approach.

Refuse Collection Challenges

The current refuse collection service is unpredictable and frustrating for residents. Various issues, including faults with the transfer station conveyor belt and non-operational collection trucks, contribute to the problem.

Short-term solutions include procuring additional trucks and working overtime to catch up with the backlog. Long-term options such as lease agreements with service providers and relocation of the transfer station are being considered.

Mayor Tsengwa emphasizes that despite the severity of these challenges, efforts are underway to find solutions within existing financial and operational constraints. He urges residents to remain patient and trust in the municipality’s commitment to resolving these issues.

In the meantime, residents are encouraged to support conservation efforts and report issues promptly to facilitate effective resolution.