Amatola Water, Asian delegation cooperate to tackle water challenges
A World Bank backed Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi delegation recently completed a week long tour of the Eastern Cape, in a bid to learn how South Africa tackles its water supply challenges. Read more
Queenstown Water Crisis Update
The Waterdown Dam is currently at 41.4 % – at the current conditions there are 326 days left in the Waterdown Dam! Read more
![j0437216[1]](http://www.businesshilite.com/wp-content/uploads/j04372161-175x150.jpg "j0437216[1]")
Being water wise is being kind to your pocket and your planet
A report released in early October by the Water Research Commission of South Africa found that South Africa has 4% less water than 20 years ago. Read more
BKCOB calls for urgent intervention AS QTN WATER SHORTAGE WORSENS
The Border Kei Chamber of Business has sent out a clarion call to residents of the Lukhanji area to realise the potential critical impact of the current water shortage in the area.
In an open letter to the public, BKCOB Qtn chairperson Bongani Khatshwa said the letter was a ‘call for help’ by all living in the area due to increasing concern over the deepening water crisis and a lack of awareness within the community. Read more
Water Crisis far from over in Queenstown
The water crisis for the Lukhanji area is getting serious: The rainy season is over, the dams are either half full or empty and the demand is ever increasing. The water restrictions from 21h00 to 04h30 are still underway with no end in site. The Border Kei Chamber of Business is still the active driver in reminding the municipalities of their commitments in this regard, creating awareness amongst the community thorough publishing articles in the newspapers and are represented in the monthly water crisis meetings. The fact is Queenstown and its surrounding areas are getting their water supply from only one dam (the Waterdown dam next to Whittlesea), and the water level in this dam is decreasing steadily. The only sustainable solution has been identified as the building of a pipeline from the Xonxa dam through to Queenstown. Driven by the BKCOB, the responsible consultants will ensure that this project is brought to tender stage by end of July. Unfortunately the Chris Hani Municipality has not yet allocated a budget for the construction phase. The municipality is now in the process of declaring this area a disaster area.
In efforts to create public awareness around this water crisis, the Lukhanji Municipality committed to starting a water saving initiative. Although decisions around these initiatives were taken and accepted at the beginning of this year, none have come to fruition to date. The BKCOB is continuing discussions with the municipality around making these initiatives a reality as soon as possible! Not only for the businesses in and around Queenstown, but for the benefit of the people themselves!
The Border-Kei AGM
What a catastrophe it would be for our CBD to be without water every night; the repercussions of this would be enormous for Queenstown!
As a result of the many concerns raised by our members regarding the drastic water cuts facing Queenstown, as well as a meeting the Border Kei Chamber of Business (Mark Wilson and Bongani Khatshwa) held with Piet Bezuidenhout, the CBD of Queenstown has not been facing the daily water cuts as previously indicated. Approximately 600 jobs would be on the line if we got to the point where the CBD had to face daily water cuts. WSSA worked around the clock to ensure that water would still be supplied to the business sector during this time. In addition, the daily water cuts which started on 8 February for the rest of Queenstown, have been running from around 21h30pm until 04h30am.
Queenstown is far from out of the woods yet and we remain in a precarious position regarding this water crisis, so the appeal continues for households / businesses and individuals to conserve water wherever possible!
Thanks to all those members who raised their concerns with the Chamber -Together we really can make a difference!
