The Kimberley Prospector

Kimberley – In a shocking revelation, Johan Smit, a VF Plus councillor at Sol Plaatje Municipality, has exposed the dire situation of the Newton reservoirs. Smit, who visited the site on Sunday evening, reported dismayingly low dam levels that could result in a water crisis for the entire region being supplied by the reservoirs.

The current conditions of the reservoirs are as follows: There are three dams that are completely empty, with capacities of 91 megaliters, 45 megaliters, and 23 megaliters. Additionally, the final dam, which has a volume of 102 megaliters, is currently only halfway filled at a height of 9.5 feet.

What makes matters worse is that the 102 megaliter dam is at such a low level that the water pumps are unable to extract any water. Smit predicts that chaos will ensue tomorrow if urgent measures are not taken. Compounding the issue, the pumps at Riverton were only switched on at 16:00 this afternoon, leaving a projected delivery time of 7 to 10 hours for the water to reach Newton reservoirs.

The implications are grave as the water network is already depleted. A water fiasco seems to be imminent in Kimberley, and residents are urged to use water sparingly. Smit, committed to monitoring the dam levels throughout the night, has issued a plea to those with boreholes to assist in any way they can.

This revelation raises questions about the competence and negligence of the Sol Plaatje Municipality in managing the crucial resource of water. As a municipality tasked with ensuring the well-being and basic needs of its residents, it is unacceptable that such a critical situation has been allowed to escalate to the point of crisis.

The responsibility lies with the Sol Plaatje Municipality to provide a swift and effective response to this impending disaster. Failure to do so will have devastating consequences for the residents of Kimberley, who rely on the municipality for their water supply.

It is imperative that immediate action is taken to rectify the water crisis before it reaches catastrophic proportions. The Sol Plaatje Municipality must be held accountable for its negligence and lack of foresight in managing this vital resource.