Knysna's taps edge closer to running bone-dry as leaks and drought hammer the supply.
Drought hammers storage levels
Drought hammers storage levels
- Akkerkloof Dam lingers near twenty-nine percent capacity mid-March 2026.
- Minimal rain keeps the main reservoir stuck in the danger zone for months.
- Current usage outpaces what little water remains available.
- Leaks, busted pumps plus neglected boreholes waste up to fifty-five percent of treated supply.
- Ageing pipes rupture constantly while illegal hookups and faulty meters pile on losses.
- Vandalism targeting fittings drags maintenance efforts even further behind.
- Level 4 rules limit households to roughly six kilolitres monthly since late 2025.
- No garden watering, pool filling or car washing allowed with town water.
- Reduced pressure stretches every drop across the network.
- Borehole cleanup worth R4.5 million wrapped up in February 2026.
- Tenders push new pumps and connections to pull millions more litres daily.
- Private land deals with PG Bison and community spots unlock additional groundwater.
- Democratic Alliance formally requests Western Cape MEC Anton Bredell step in fast.
- Section 154 intervention targets broken systems and supply stabilisation.
- Senior engineers already loaned for half a year to overhaul repairs and planning.
- Hospitality spots brace for fewer visitors and job risks along the Garden Route.
- Informal areas depend on tankers while standpipes barely cope.
- Day Zero queues loom unless big rain hits or fixes accelerate.
