Bitou faces Water Crisis

BITOU FACES WATER CRISIS: RATEPAYERS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

Bitou is facing a severe water crisis after months of below-average rainfall, and the Municipality has now imposed Level 3 water restrictions. Plett Ratepayers are urging urgent action to prevent a catastrophic collapse of the town’s water supply.

Despite claims that Bitou is “water scarce,” the region is naturally one of the wetter parts of South Africa. The real problem is not rainfall — it is inadequate bulk water storage, ageing infrastructure, and slow implementation of long-planned solutions. With festive-season tourism around the corner, demand will spike at the worst possible moment.

80% of Bitou’s Water Supply at Risk

Around 80% of our water comes from the Keurbooms River. Under current drought conditions, that supply is now dangerously restricted. A sudden failure of the Keurbooms system — which is increasingly likely — would leave the entire town surviving on just 20% of normal supply from the Roodefontein Dam, the desalination plant, and limited boreholes.

This would be devastating.

A Crisis Long Predicted — and Preventable

The Ratepayers Association met with municipal officials in December 2024 and highlighted the need for an urgent water strategy. Skilled staff exist within the Municipality, but they remain under-resourced, understaffed, and without the political backing needed to execute long-term solutions.

Follow-up engagements promised in 2024 never materialised, and the interventions discussed have not been implemented. The crisis we long warned about has now arrived.

The Long-Term Solution Is Known — But Delayed for a Decade

Bitou’s only sustainable, long-term water security solution is the construction of the Wadrif off-channel storage dam. This dam would capture excess Keurbooms water in high-flow periods, ensuring stable supply during droughts.

Investigations into Wadrif began in 2010, stalled for years, and were only partially revived in 2023. More than 15 years later, construction has still not begun.

Short-Term Measures That Can Help — If Acted On Now

Several interim solutions could significantly improve water security — none are new, and all have been previously discussed with the Municipality:

• Restore and upgrade the vandalised Keurbooms–Roodefontein transfer pipeline.
• Equip and utilise all existing boreholes based on past aquifer studies.
• Optimise the performance of the desalination plant (EIA urgently outstanding).
• Treat effluent from Ganse Vlei for safe reuse at Roodefontein Dam.
• Complete the agreement for increased extraction from Roodefontein Dam
• Aggressively repair leaks and reduce the current 30% water loss.
• Enforce rainwater-harvesting requirements on new developments.
• Provide adequate funding as a priority to  fast-track action items.
• Halt approval of new developments unless water infrastructure can support them under drought conditions.

These measures are affordable and achievable — if the political will exists.

Time Is Up — Action Must Start Today

Bitou cannot continue commissioning studies while delaying implementation. The town is running out of time, and residents are paying the price for years of inaction.

The Plett Ratepayers Association calls on the Municipality to immediately prioritise water infrastructure, reopen engagement with stakeholders, and fast-track both short-term interventions and long-term storage solutions.

Everyone Must Play a Part

Until meaningful action is taken, residents are urged to conserve water and use it as efficiently as possible.

Kind regards,

Tony Blignaut