National, provincial, and local authorities are working closely together to stabilise water supply and strengthen long-term water resilience in Knysna and surrounding coastal towns in the Garden Route.
The National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has confirmed that it is actively supporting the Knysna Municipality, the Western Cape Provincial Government, and other Water Services Authorities to mitigate the impact of ongoing drought conditions on residents, businesses, and the tourism sector.
Current Water Status Being Actively Managed
Knysna’s water system is under pressure due to a combination of below-average rainfall, reduced river inflows, and infrastructure challenges. The Akkerkloof Dam, the municipality’s main storage facility, is currently at approximately 19% capacity, providing an estimated 13-day buffer at current consumption levels.
Authorities have stressed that while the situation is serious, decisive interventions are already in motion to extend supply and protect essential services.
Joint Operations Committee Activated
A Joint Operations Committee (JOC) — a standing intergovernmental coordination structure — has been activated to oversee and fast-track responses. The JOC is co-chaired by DWS, the Western Cape Department of Local Government, and Knysna Municipality, with technical support from the Breede-Olifants Catchment Management Agency and the Garden Route District Municipality.
This structure is coordinating:
Immediate emergency measures
Medium-term resilience actions
Longer-term water security solutions
Alternative Water Sources and Compliance Measures
To strengthen supply, authorities are accelerating the activation of alternative water sources, including:
-
Groundwater and borehole development
-
Water reuse technologies
-
Temporary augmentation schemes
In parallel, DWS and partner institutions are implementing a Compliance and Enforcement Blitz to ensure adherence to water restrictions, prevent illegal abstraction, reduce wastage, and protect environmental systems.
Practical Measures Currently Underway
Key interventions being monitored and implemented include:
-
Strong demand-reduction initiatives
-
Enforcement of Level 4 water restrictions
-
Blending and sourcing of additional water where feasible
-
Infrastructure maintenance to prevent leaks and outages
-
Ongoing public communication to keep residents and visitors informed
These actions aim to extend available supply, protect public health needs, and maintain service continuity.
Building Climate-Resilient Water Systems
The current situation highlights the growing impact of climate change on coastal municipalities. DWS has reaffirmed the importance of diversifying water systems beyond surface storage, including:
-
Groundwater development
-
Water reuse and recycling
-
Stormwater harvesting
-
Desalination where feasible
-
Improved efficiency and demand management
To support long-term resilience, DWS is also assisting Knysna Municipality through its Policy Development Special Project, helping to update Water and Sanitation By-Laws to strengthen regulation, enforcement, and sustainability.
Call for Community Cooperation
Authorities are encouraging residents, businesses, and visitors to continue using water responsibly and to comply fully with restrictions currently in place. Communities are also urged to report vandalism of water infrastructure, which places additional strain on already limited resources.
Reassurance to the Public
DWS has assured the public that all spheres of government are aligned and working collectively to stabilise water supply in Knysna and across the Garden Route. Progress updates will continue to be shared as further interventions are rolled out and conditions evolve.
