The Eden District has applied to have the region formally declared a disaster area, paving the way for increased emergency funding to help tackle the area’s worst drought in more than 100 years.

The Eden District Council recently received R43-million and has another R63- million application pending.

“This move will now allow our municipalities to access disaster funding from the national government, bringing relief to municipalities and residents in the short to medium term,” Mayor Leon Dorfling said yesterday.

He said the district had been at the forefront, through its disaster management centre, of co-ordinating the efforts of local municipalities in responding to the crisis.

“Currently, the affected coastal municipalities are Mossel Bay, George, Hessequa, Knysna and Bitou (Plettenberg Bay), who are estimated to have water only until March 2010,” Dorfling said.

Yesterday a delegation from Eden met the Western Cape government in Cape Town and presented a report on the situation.

The provincial Cabinet is expected to make a decision today on Eden’s recommendation that the area be formally declared a disaster area.

Despite receiving rain in the past month, the effect has been negligible on the Southern Cape’s dam levels. “The below normal rainfall combined with maximum temperatures has led weather researchers to believe that the district might be experiencing the El Nino effect,” Dorfling said.

He called on residents to use water sparingly “since it would be disastrous if we were to run out of water altogether”.

According to the SA Weather Service, the area is experiencing its worst drought in over 100 years and indications are it is set to worsen.

Towns across the area have embarked on massive publicity campaigns to urge residents and holidaymakers to limit their water use.

A number of towns have adopted stepped water tariffs whereby heavy users pay more per kilolitre, and are installing low-flow devices.

Knysna last week announced it had received a R22-million national Treasury grant after it declared an emergency to access funding.

The money will be put towards sinking boreholes and a waste water recycling plant.

In George, a waste water recycling plant is also being planned, while in Sedgefield a desalination plant will be built.

By Janine Oelofse

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