The severe drought having affected for the whole country spread also to Limpopo Province. Limpopo Province being a drought prone province faces challenges of drought from time, affecting water resources. In the last two years the province received below average rainfall in mostly eastern areas of the province including Mopani and Waterberg Districts. Water resources such as dams, rivers and ground water has dried up and negatively affecting several communities.

Lepelle Northern Water has been negatively affected by the drought to an extent that some of its water resources especially in Mopani District have been dried out or drying out fast. Modjadji Dam serving Greater Municipality in Mopani District Municipality has literally deteriorated to 5,87% which unfortunately is also dropping at a fast rate. LNW jointly with MDM warn communities receiving water from Modjadji Scheme to use water sparingly due to the current situation.

The drought situation also negatively affected Tubatse Water Scheme to the extent where LNW stopped raw water abstraction on the 07 October 2019 due to the extremely low flow of Spekboom River, where the pump could only be stopped on the 15 October 2019. LNW has notified the affected municipalities to commence with the awareness campaigns and for respective Councils to take resolutions for water restrictions to can sustain the little resources within their areas of jurisdictions.

During these crisis periods, LNW has informed all Water Services Authorities to revoke their Water Supply By-Laws to control water use and to minimise water wastage. The most affected areas are Greater Tubatse and Ba-Phalaborwa in Mopani District Municipality and Greater Burgersfort due to the extremely low levels of Spekboom River. Activities using water not for essential purpose such as washing cars by hosepipes, watering gardens during the day, cleaning bays and floors using water amongst others are encouraged to be stopped.

Lepelle Northern Water found itself being unable to provide the agreed volume of potable water to respective municipalities due to the conditions of the various water resources. Unfortunately, the situation has turned so bad in other areas and urgent intervention mechanisms are needed towards providing residents with potable water as per respective bulk water contracts. LNW is working with affected municipalities and DWS in addressing the critical issue facing us
Planned interventions mechanisms amongst others include:

• • Re-drilling and equipping additional boreholes for the utilisation of ground water to augment bulk water from respective Schemes
  • Working with municipalities in providing tankers (where possible)to affected communities within the supply areas
  • Search for alternative sources to provide raw water to respective water schemes since the current ones are either dry or in the fast process of drying up. – Joint Campaigns with affected municipality to educate communities about efficient water use and water conversation.

All residents within respective municipalities are being advised to seriously take note of this unfortunate situation of facing challenges about the abstraction of raw water from respective water resources. The message is that all should join hands in conserving the little available water resource to the benefit all during these trying times.

Issued by LNW’s Communications and Stakeholder Relations
For further inquiry, kindly call Simon Mpamonyane at:
082 905 1830