Fears that taps could soon run dry in Knysna, a popular South African tourist town known for its turquoise waters, sandy beaches and mild climate, have led authorities to declare a local state of disaster.
The prospect of reaching “day zero” — when municipal water supplies are switched off — is alarming for the roughly 100,000 people who live along the Garden Route, a 150km (93-mile) stretch of scenic coastal towns on South Africa’s southern coast.
Knysna is the latest South African town to be gripped by a severe water crisis, driven by years of neglected infrastructure and increasingly erratic weather patterns. Beneath its picturesque exterior — and its reputation as a retirement haven for wealthier South Africans — the town’s water system is close to collapse.
Officials estimate that about 55% of Knysna’s potable water is lost through leaking pipes. The situation has been worsened by drought, which has sharply reduced water levels at the town’s main reservoir. When the media visited last week, Akkerkloof Dam held just 20 days’ worth of water.
Although authorities have imposed strict water restrictions and secured emergency funding, it remains unclear when “day zero” could occur.
Some residents have already experienced their own version of it. Last October, a fault at a municipal plant left a retirement centre without water for 10 days. The facility’s owner, Franco de Grandis, said the incident forced him to invest heavily in back-up systems.
“We need water in the apartments. We need water when people are bedridden and in nappies. Without water, we cannot function,” he said.
De Grandis spent about 250,000 rand ($15,700; £11,400) on three 10,000-litre storage tanks and pressure pumps to supply water during outages. “I had to make my own plan. I knew I couldn’t allow our residents to go through that again,” he said.
Aid organisations have also stepped in. Gift of the Givers delivers thousands of litres of water almost daily using tankers supplied from privately drilled boreholes.
“There is serious gratitude from people when we arrive,” said local co-ordinator Mario Ferreira. “But the disturbing thing is that people start thinking this is a way of life — and it shouldn’t be.”
Unless a long-term solution is found, residents fear water ration queues could soon become the norm. “Water is a basic right. It’s frustrating that the town has come to this,” De Grandis added.
Mayor Thando Matika, in office for just 11 months, acknowledges the scale of the problem but says it predates his administration.
“For years the municipality did not maintain infrastructure. They said there was no money. Even boreholes drilled in 2009 had stopped working,” he said.
The council has now received an emergency $1.25m allocation from the national government. Short-term plans include repairing seven boreholes and a desalination plant, as well as drilling an additional borehole. Longer-term measures involve water recycling and possibly constructing a new dam.
“Hydrologists are already in town assessing that process,” the mayor said.
Water meters will also be installed in homes where they are missing or broken. Restrictions introduced in January include reduced water pressure, bans on watering gardens, filling swimming pools and washing boats with municipal water. Usage has been capped at 50 litres per person per day — far below the UK average of 142 litres.
The “day zero” narrative has unsettled the tourism sector. “The term can inspire panic and seems threatening,” said Elmay Bouwer of the Great Knysna Business Council.
“We should rather focus on educating people about saving water. We inform international tourists about the restrictions, but we also want them to enjoy their stay. It’s about respecting resources, not scaring people.”
But water experts warn that complacency is dangerous. Cape Town narrowly avoided “day zero” during the 2018 drought, and similar crises are likely to spread.
“We’re going to see more towns struggling with water security,” said Dr Ferial Adam of advocacy group Watercan. “For millions in South Africa, ‘day zero’ already exists. Half the population does not have running water at home.”
She says the crisis reflects a mix of unequal access, decaying infrastructure and climate change. “Put all that together and you get a melting pot of problems.”
This reality is starkly visible in Khayalethu township, just a short drive from Knysna’s leafy suburbs. Residents there say irregular water supply is normal — but the current crisis has at least drawn attention to their daily hardship.
“You cannot live without water, but we are often left without it for days,” said 60-year-old Khanyiswa Sewula. “I struggle to walk, but I still have to carry buckets from where the tankers park if I want water in my home.”
