Knysna Municipality is pleased to report steady and measurable progress in stabilising and augmenting water supply across the greater Knysna municipal area. The region is still experiencing low rainfall and the continued pressures of drought.
Following Council’s resolution to declare the greater Knysna municipal area a local disaster area, the municipality intensified its coordinated response to safeguard water security for residents, businesses and visitors. The drought, compounded by ageing infrastructure, required swift, decisive and sustained intervention. The Joint Operations Centre has been operational since 4 December 2025, providing centralised oversight and ensuring coordinated decision-making across technical and disaster management teams. Level 4 water restrictions, implemented in December, remain in place to manage demand and protect available resources.
Executive Mayor Thando Matika said the progress achieved over recent months demonstrates the municipality’s commitment to proactive and responsible water management. “When we declared a local disaster area, it was not simply a procedural step, it was a commitment to act with urgency and purpose. Despite very limited rainfall, we have improved supply through augmentation projects and improved operational coordination. This progress belongs to the entire Knysna community,” he said.
Significant augmentation interventions have been implemented to relieve pressure on the system. Four boreholes are now operational in Sedgefield, delivering a combined yield of approximately 2.9 megalitres per day. Six boreholes are currently operational and contributing to supply stability in Knysna. Five trucks from Gift of the Givers have been carting water from the PG Bison (0.3ML/day) and Knysna Mosque (0.14ML/day) boreholes to the treatment plant to supplement municipal resources since 22 January. Further water augmentation projects include the testing, refurbishing and connecting of seven boreholes and two natural springs in Knysna.Four new boreholes, two in Sedgefield, one in Buffalo Bay and one in Knysna, as well as augmenting of the Akkerkloof Dam pumping scheme are also ready for rollout, with supply chain management processes to be completed within seven working days. A drilling contractor has already been appointed to accelerate the rollout of these projects.
“We have commenced with the installation of 1000 conventional water meters to replace faulty and unmetered units across the municipal area,” said Matika. These measures are critical to reducing water losses and unbilled consumption, ensuring that water supplied to the system is not lost through leaks, illegal connections or faulty meters, and that usage is accurately measured and recovered.”
Additional plumbing teams have been appointed to rapidly respond to burst pipes and leaks. The public is reminded to report leaks and burst pipes to our dedicated WhatsApp number at 060 998 7032.
Encouraging improvements have been recorded in dam and reservoir levels. Akkerkloof Dam is currently at 29.8%, a substantial improvement from December 2025 when the municipality faced the prospect of only ten days’ remaining supply. Karatara Dam stands at 95% and Rheenendal Dam at 92%. The Sedgefield purification plant is fully operational and reservoir levels across the system are currently stable.
“We have moved from crisis mode to cautious stabilisation,” said Matika. “Recovery remains fragile in the absence of consistent rainfall and we cannot become complacent. The Akkerkloof Dam level is improving, yet rainfall remains below expected levels. Water conservation and behavioural change remain essential.”
The municipality continues to urge residents to adopt a water-saving culture in their normal routines. Current average household consumption is approximately 10 000 kilolitres per day, exceeding the targeted 8 000 kilolitres per day. Reducing consumption remains critical to safeguarding supply.
“Water security is not only an engineering challenge – it is a community responsibility,” Matika added. “If our community reduces overall consumption to 8 000 kilolitres per day, we dramatically improve our resilience. I urge every resident to buy into the attitude of ‘be Knys – save water’.”
“It is important to note that Knysna remains fully open, welcoming and ready for visitors, with a proactive and responsible approach to water management across the tourism sector. Operations continue as normal, with water-saving measures firmly in place. Knysna’s events calendar remains vibrant and full of energy, with several much-loved events on the bill. Saving water does not mean compromising the visitor experience, but safeguarding it,” Matika concluded.
Did you know? Greater Knysna’s water infrastructure comprises three dams, nine water treatment schemes, approximately 42 kilometres of raw water pipelines, approximately 404 kilometres of potable water mains, 49 reservoirs and elevated tanks, and 55 pump stations. This extensive and interconnected network requires ongoing maintenance and investment, particularly in the context of climate variability and ageing infrastructure.