13 Mar 2023 | 10:59 AM UTC
South Africa: Substation power failure March 11 aggravates water shortage affecting Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
Substation power failure March 11 causes blackout and increases water shortage affecting Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, South Africa.
Event
A severe water shortage continues to impact Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality as of March 13. Reports suggest the municipality, which includes Gqeberha, has less than seven percent of its water reserves left. The shortage was further exacerbated on March 11 when an electrical substation exploded in the Coega Industrial Development Zone. This caused a temporary blackout and prevented pumps from distributing water throughout the municipality. Police services suspect a criminal motive for the cause of the blast.
Residents are being asked to limit their water consumption to 50 liters per person per day. Further updates will be published by authorities here. Water trucks have been deployed to areas experiencing acute water shortages, including:
Access Park shopping center
Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ)
Forest Hill
Greenshileds Park
Humweood
Kensington
Milkwood
Perridgevale
Schaunderville
Tavcor
Walmer
Officials may increase restrictions on water usage in the coming days should the situation worsen further. Additional limits could impact business operations that rely on large quantities of water. Major transport hubs, including Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ), could curtail services if the water supply is restricted. Demonstrations in response to water shortages could also materialize. Protesters could block roads or attack government offices. Security forces will almost certainly deploy to any protests that occur.
Advice
Monitor local media for updates on the situation and related advisories from authorities. Avoid all demonstrations as a precaution. Stock up on drinking water. Confirm alternative water supplies for business operations. Pressure and water quality may be poor; run taps for several minutes before using water. Minimize nonessential water use throughout the outage. Use only bottled water from reputable suppliers for drinking and hygienic purposes.
