2 Boreholes for George

2 boreholes of about 10 bore holes have been drilled this water source will deliver 4,5 litres per second for George.

According to Harold Basson Senior Manager of Civil Engineering it equals about 338000 litres per day that can supply water to about 700 - 800 house holds. They are hopping to find a stronger bore hole before they would consider installing a pipeline to direct the water to the George to the towns water system.

The aim at this stage is to find a borehole that can yield between 2 & 3 million litres per day. That's about 10% of the towns daily use.

The 3 million that Eden District Municipality had given is enough to drill 10 boreholes as per Johan du Pleez of the Eden District Municipality

Do you know how much water you are using

Washing your hands and face = 1.5 litres each time

Fill basin with soap water to use throughout the day

Bath = 80 - 150 litres

• Bath must not be filled up more the 15 cm
  
• Bath small children together
  
• Use bath water to fill toilets and water plant

10 minute shower = 90 Litres

• Get a free flow restrictor or from Bathroom Bizarre or CTM and install in shower rose
  
• Install low flow shower heads
  
• Cut shower time down to 3 to 4 minutes
  
• Soap body and wash hair
  
• Switch taps back on to rinse
  
• Collect cold water buckets to flush toilets or water gardens
  

Toilet flush = 6-21 litres

• Averages = 9 to 13 litres
• Put Hipo Bag, Brick or 2 litre container in cistern to reduce water volume per flush. Only flush when necessary
  
• Do not use toilet as dustbin
  

Drinking per cup = 250 ml

• Keep water in fridge to avoid letting tap run cold before filling cup with water
  

Hand Washing dishes = 18 per single basin and 36 per double basin

• Don't rinse dishes wipe excess off with paper towel
  
• Only half full sink. Rinse in basin not under running water
  

Dishwashers = 17 - 45 litres

• Only use for full load
  

Washing machine 1 x 3kg load = 80litres

• Only wash full loads

Current stats as for water problems in George

Current Stats:

Rainfall:
Sunday 03 January 2010
• 10mm rain measured.

Thursday 10 December
• Garden Route Dam up from 22% (Monday) to 23.8%.

Sunday 5 December / Monday 6 December
• 50mm rain measured at dam.
• 31mm rain measured at airport.

The towns of George, Knysna, Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay have been declared Disaster Areas due to the current drought. The Southern Cape has experienced the lowest recorded rainfall in history. (Records date back 132 years.) Rainfall to date for 2009 is +- 40% of the annual average.

The water situation remains extremely serious.

Hot temperatures and below normal rainfall is forecast for January, February and March 2010. The re-use of waste water is going ahead. It is scheduled for completion in March 2010. This project will supply 30% of current demand.

Rain is desperately needed to supplement the level of the Garden Route dam.

Short and long term plans to increase water supply have commenced. Boreholes will be drilled. The Malgas Pumping scheme and the raising of the Garden Route dam spillway (to provide more storage capacity) are going ahead as per the original planning (in place since 2004).

The plea is not just to save water.

We must change habits inside the house!

It will be inconvenient. Careful consideration

must be given before using each drop of water.