Understanding Port Alfred’s Water Supply Challenges
For many years, residents of Port Alfred have faced ongoing water shortages, supply interruptions, and increasing frustration over the reliability of our town’s water infrastructure. While many people experience the inconvenience of dry taps, few fully understand the complex journey water takes before it reaches our homes. Understanding where our water comes from is the first step toward understanding why the problem persists.
Port Alfred’s current bulk water supply comes from three main sources: the Sarel Hayward Dam (SHD), which can supply a maximum of 5 megalitres (ML) per day; two Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants, capable of producing up to 2.5 ML per day; and boreholes, contributing around 1.0 ML per day. In total, this gives the town a theoretical maximum of approximately 8.5 ML per day.
In reality, however, these systems rarely operate at full capacity. Under normal conditions, only around 6.5 ML per day is pumped into the balancing dam (BD), while the Nemato Water Treatment Plant NWIP) can also only treat about 6.5 ML per day. This is generally sufficient during the quieter off-season, but during holiday periods, when visitor numbers rise significantly, the demand far exceeds supply.
Residents and holidaymakers are therefore encouraged to install water storage tanks to help ease pressure during peak demand periods. Unfortunately, shortages are often worsened by frequent pump failures, burst pipes, and aging infrastructure that is not properly maintained. Poor management and insufficient maintenance remain major contributors to the disruption of Port Alfred’s water supply.
Where Does the Water Come From?
A weir across the Kowie River at Waters Meet, just below Pump Stations 1 and 2, plays an important role in supplying water to the system. Historically, this weir remained full thanks to regular rainfall in the Grahamstown catchment area. However, prolonged drought conditions have drastically reduced inflow.
Pump Station 1 houses five pumps: two submersible pumps, two surface pumps, and one dedicated pump with a direct pipeline to the Sarel Hayward Dam. Unfortunately, these pumps are frequently out of service.
Pump Station 2 contains four pumps and is normally configured to direct 60% of water to the town and 40% to the SHD. In times of shortage, valves can be adjusted so that 100% of available water is directed to town.
Pump Stations 3 and 4 then move water from Pump Station 2 either to the Balancing Dam or to the Nemato Water Treatment Plant, from where various reservoirs across Port Alfred are supplied.
Boreholes and Groundwater Pressure
Several boreholes near Mooifontein Quarry contribute to the water supply. These were connected to the reticulation system through dedicated pipelines to either the Balancing Dam or the treatment plant.
However, years of over-pumping combined with drought have caused groundwater levels to drop significantly. Local farmers have raised repeated concerns and complaints against Ndlambe Local Municipality over falling water tables and drying boreholes on surrounding farms.
The municipality also purchases borehole water from private farmers and from Hay’s Siding. This water is either transported by tanker to JOJO tanks around town or piped to Mansfield Dam before entering the treatment system. However, details regarding water volumes and quality have not been publicly released.
Additional boreholes were also drilled at Grove Hill Farm by contractors appointed by Amatola Water. These are believed to be linked to the Mansfield Dam reticulation system, although their exact location and production volumes have not been clearly communicated.
East Beach Dunes Project
Boreholes were also developed in the East Beach Dunes area, where clean potable water was initially pumped directly into the East Beach Reservoir. While the water quality was excellent, production volumes were low and the system stopped operating several years ago due to vandalism.
A recent rehabilitation project aimed to deepen the boreholes and restore production was commissioned but unfortunately the infrastructure was vandalised again, and the system remains non-operational.
Reverse Osmosis Plants
QFS was originally awarded the contract to build and operate two RO plants: a 2.0 ML saline plant drawing water from the Kowie River, and a 3.0 ML re-use water plant.
The saline plant was commissioned but consistently failed to produce the contracted volumes. Ongoing contractual and performance issues eventually led to the termination of QFS’s contract.
NuWater has since taken over operations of the 2.0 ML saline plant and has been tasked with commissioning the 3.0 ML re-use plant. However, there is currently insufficient sewage water reaching the Port Alfred Sewage Works to support this second plant.
Although Port Alfred should be producing more than 3.0 ML of sewage per day, less than 1.0 ML currently reaches the existing sewage pond system. Sewerage infrastructure upgrades are now underway to improve this situation.
NuWater also operates a separate 1.0 ML saline water plant at the end of Wharf Street, which has performed well, but this facility will soon need to be relocated due to the construction of a major sewage storage system nearby.
Water Trucking and the Cost of Shortages
To help meet daily demand, water is currently being trucked into Port Alfred from areas with better supply, such as the Boknes and Cannon Rocks RO Plant, mainly to service the many JOJO tanks around town.
This is an expensive and unsustainable solution, but it has become necessary to prevent complete supply collapse during critical shortages.
The Amatola “White Elephant”
One of the most controversial projects remains the Amatola Water RO Plant near 43rd Air School. More than R130 million was spent on this facility, which was never completed. Work has recently resumed to complete the project.
For more information about PARRA or to become a member, please visit our website at www.parra.org.za