NELSON MANDELA BAY CLARIFIES WATER SECURITY CONTEXT: DISTINGUISHING DROUGHT CONDITIONS FROM INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT

Nelson Mandela Bay is a water-scarce municipality. The primary driver of water scarcity remains prolonged below-average rainfall, elevated temperatures, and adverse climatic conditions, which reduce inflows into dams and catchment systems. These climatic factors result in drought conditions and constrain water availability at source.

As of 19 January 2026, combined dam storage across the Metro stands at approximately 47.70%. However, once dead storage is considered, actual available water is approximately 38.76%, equating to about 109 132 megalitres. Not all water stored in dams is accessible for abstraction, and abstraction limits imposed by the Department of Water and Sanitation on certain sub-systems further constrain usable supply. These figures clearly illustrate the structural pressure on the Metro's water resources, irrespective of operational efficiencies within the distribution network.

This pressure is further compounded by current water consumption levels. As of 19 January 2026, daily water consumption in Nelson Mandela Bay is approximately 380 million litres per day (380 MLD), against a target demand of 280 million litres per day (280 MLD). This means the Metro is consuming around 100 million litres per day above the sustainable target, significantly accelerating the drawdown of limited water resources. At current consumption levels, the Metro has an estimated 246 days of water supply remaining, underscoring the urgency of sustained demand reduction.

It is important to clearly distinguish between drought conditions and water losses associated with infrastructure challenges. Droughts are climatic events and are not caused by water leaks or ageing infrastructure. Infrastructure-related losses affect the efficiency with which available water is conveyed and distributed once it has already entered the system. Conflating these two issues risks misinforming residents and oversimplifying a complex and multi-dimensional challenge.

The Municipality acknowledges that ageing water infrastructure remains a significant operational challenge, particularly in older parts of the Metro. This challenge is compounded by shrinking municipal funding, rising operational costs, vandalism of water infrastructure and increasing service delivery demands. Importantly, water losses linked to ageing infrastructure are a national phenomenon, affecting municipalities across South Africa and not unique to Nelson Mandela Bay.

The current reported backlog of water leaks is approximately 2 000. This figure is a moving target, as new leaks are reported daily while others are repaired. Internal municipal teams are repairing water leaks daily across the Metro, ensuring continuity of service while longer-term capacity is being strengthened. The Municipality is in the process of finalising the appointment of an external service provider to augment internal capacity, in line with prescribed procurement requirements. In the interim, internal teams remain fully operational and actively addressing reported leaks.

In parallel, the Municipality has already invested R1.8 billion in borehole augmentation projects as part of its long-term water security strategy. This investment has strengthened groundwater capacity, diversified water sources, and reduced reliance on surface water, thereby improving resilience against future droughts.

Water security in Nelson Mandela Bay requires a balanced understanding of both climatic realities and infrastructure constraints, alongside recognition of the interventions already implemented. Critically, it also requires responsible water use by all stakeholders to reduce daily demand to sustainable levels.

The Municipality respectfully appeals for balanced, accurate, and responsible media framing of water-related issues. Narratives that conflate drought conditions with governance or infrastructure challenges risk misleading residents and undermining public understanding. Clear distinctions enable informed public engagement, constructive accountability, and collective action to safeguard limited water resources.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will continue to engage openly with residents, businesses, and the media as it works to secure a sustainable and resilient water future for the Metro.