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The Nelson MandelaBay Metro is experiencing a water crisis with daily water consumption sitting at 387m lts.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber in the Eastern Cape has expressed concern about the daily water consumption in the Metro. According to the Metro, the daily water consumption is sitting at 387m – surpassing the recommended daily limit of 280m lts.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality continues to respond to community needs through real, on-the-ground service delivery. As part of ongoing efforts by the Infrastructure and Engineering Directorate, water leaks have been repaired in the following areas: pic.twitter.com/LcAkDRX6p0
— Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (@NMandelaBaymuni) January 14, 2026
The chamber says the extreme heat conditions, also place a strain on an already fragile water system. To mitigate the high usage of water, the chamber has relaunched its Adopt A School initiative.
Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO, Denise van Huyssteen says the initiative will focus on repairing faulty plumbing systems, fixing water leaks and installing rainwater harvesting measures.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality continues to respond to community needs through real, on-the-ground service delivery. As part of ongoing efforts by the Infrastructure and Engineering Directorate, water leaks have been repaired in the following areas: pic.twitter.com/oiFJx4js6j
— Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (@NMandelaBaymuni) January 5, 2026
“This decline in available water is not driven by declining dam levels alone, but also by unaccounted water losses of well over 50% caused by the lack of maintenance of water infrastructure and leaks which is costing the metro millions of litres of treated water every day, as well as meter tampering, inadequate security at pump stations, water billing and other technical issues,” adds van Huyssteen.
