Ward 3 - Nelson Mandela Bay

📢 PUBLIC NOTICE

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Budget and Treasury Directorate would like to inform residents that the following call centres remain fully operational:

☎️ Water and Accounts: 0800 205 050
☎️ Electricity: 041 506 5595

Residents are encouraged to use these numbers to report faults and make enquiries.

Please note that due to the ongoing internet outage, the Municipality’s mobile app, e-Services platform and email services are currently unavailable.

The following Customer Care Centres remain operational and available to assist residents:

📍 Motherwell Customer Care Centre
📍 Walmer Customer Care Centre
📍 Mafansekhaya Gqobose Customer Care Centre(Old City Treasure in Govan Mbeki)

The Municipality apologises forinconvenience caused and will provide updates as services are restored.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆: 𝗡𝗠𝗕 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿.

Not a word from City Hall. BUT here’s the thing-you have the right to know what happens with YOUR water in YOUR city. 🤷🏽‍♂️

I’m trying to put the water puzzle together. As I get to the bottom of the problem, I will share more info.

Retief Odendaal

WATER SUPPLY UPDATE
18 June 2026 | 20:40

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s water distribution system remains under severe strain, with all strategic distribution reservoirs either depleted or operating at critically low levels. As a result, many areas across the metro continue to experience water supply disruptions, low pressure, or intermittent supply.

Current Reservoir Status and Affected Areas

1. Motherwell Zone

* Motherwell Reservoirs are currently at 26% capacity.
* The zone remains relatively stable; however, higher-lying areas continue to experience low water pressure and intermittent supply.

2. Chelsea Zone

* Reservoir levels remain critically low at below 7%.
* Most areas supplied by this zone are experiencing significant water disruptions.

3. Greenbushes Zone

* Reservoir levels remain critically low.
* Residents in areas supplied by this zone continue to experience water outages and reduced supply.

4. KwaNobuhle Zone

* Reservoir levels have improved and are currently in the mid-30% range.
* Water supply is gradually being restored to affected communities.

5. Fairbridge Heights Zone

* Fairbridge Heights Reservoir is currently at 40% capacity.
* Supply in this zone is relatively stable, although residents are encouraged to continue using water sparingly.

6. Heatherbank and Lovemore Heights Zones

* Heatherbank Reservoir: 2%
* Lovemore Heights Reservoir: below 13%
* Upper Tank: 24%
* These areas remain under severe pressure, with ongoing supply interruptions, particularly in higher-lying sections.

7. Bloemendal Zone

* Bloemendal Reservoir is currently at 2% capacity.
* Many areas, particularly the northern parts of the metro supplied by this zone, are experiencing water outages.

8. Rosedale – Kabah – Langa Zone

* Water supply remains critical in this area.
* Production at the Kabah Water Treatment Works has stabilised at approximately 8 megalitres per day, but this remains insufficient to fully meet demand.
* Residents continue to experience prolonged water disruptions.

Interventions Underway

Municipal teams continue to implement several measures to stabilise the water supply system and accelerate recovery, including:

* Optimisation of water treatment works and pump station operations.
* Procurement and replenishment of treatment chemicals at all water treatment works supplying the metro.
* Ongoing public awareness and communication regarding the current water challenges.
* Deployment of water tankers to provide emergency water relief to affected communities.
* Daily operational adjustments across the network to improve system performance and support faster recovery.

Recovery Outlook

While these interventions are beginning to yield positive results in certain areas, the recovery of the overall water distribution system remains slow due to the extent of reservoir depletion across the metro.

If current interventions continue to perform as anticipated, a gradual recovery of the water system is expected over the next 14 days. Residents are advised that restoration will not occur simultaneously across all areas, and recovery times will vary depending on reservoir levels, location, elevation, and system pressures.

The Municipality apologises for the inconvenience caused and thanks residents for their patience and cooperation during this challenging period.

WATER DISRUPTIONS AFFECTING PARTS OF THE METRO

18 June 2026

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality wishes to provide residents with a comprehensive update on the current water supply challenges affecting large parts of the metro.

Despite the metro’s dams being at full capacity following the heavy flooding experienced during the first week of May 2026, residents continue to experience intermittent water supply, low water pressure and, in some areas, complete water outages. These disruptions are the result of several operational challenges that have severely impacted the city’s ability to produce and distribute treated water consistently.

Key Factors Contributing to Water Supply Disruptions

1. High Turbidity in Raw Water Sources
The severe flooding significantly increased the turbidity (mud and sediment content) of raw water entering the treatment works. Existing treatment infrastructure was not designed to process water with such extreme turbidity levels, resulting in treatment plants operating at reduced efficiency and producing less than half of their normal output at certain times.

2. Power Supply Interruptions
Critical water infrastructure, including the Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works, Lorrie Water Treatment Works, Motherwell Booster Pump Station and Schoonie Pump Station, experienced intermittent power disruptions during May and June. These interruptions affected both water production and the ability to pump water to reservoirs across the metro.

3. Chemical Supply Challenges
The treatment of drinking water relies on a consistent supply of specialised chemicals. Delays in deliveries, logistical challenges, quality concerns and contractual issues have resulted in intermittent shortages, reducing production capacity at treatment facilities.

4. Excessive Water Consumption
Current daily water consumption in Nelson Mandela Bay is approximately 380 million litres per day, significantly exceeding the target demand of 280 million litres per day. This excessive demand places immense pressure on an already strained system and contributes to reservoir depletion.

Reservoir Levels Critically Low

The cumulative impact of these challenges has left many strategic reservoirs operating at critically low levels, with some reservoirs nearly empty. The water supply system is currently operating under severe strain, making it highly vulnerable to any operational interruption.

Particularly concerning reservoir levels include:

* Chelsea Reservoir – 7%
* Emerald Hill Reservoir – 2%
* Heatherbank Reservoir – 3%
* Lovemore Heights Reservoir – 4%
* Gelvandale Reservoir – 2%
* Greenbushes Reservoir – 13%
* Fort Nottingham Reservoir – 7%
* Fairview Reservoir – 11%
* Rosedale Reservoir – 0%

These low levels are affecting water supply across multiple zones and suburbs throughout the metro.

Areas Experiencing Water Interruptions and Low Pressure

Residents in the following areas are currently experiencing no water or low water pressure:

* Parts of Rosedale
* Kabah and Langa
* Mountain View
* MacNaughton
* Fairbridge Heights
* Motherwell
* iKamvelihle
* Wells Estate
* Bluewater Bay
* St George’s
* Walmer Township
* Walmer (7th to 14th Avenue)
* Glen Hurd
* Newton Park
* Schauderville
* Mangold Park
* Greenacres
* Perridgevale
* Adcockvale
* Parsons Hill
* Glendinningvale
* Mill Park
* Linkside
* Mount Croix
* Richmond Hill
* High-lying areas of Central
* Rowallan Park
* Greenbushes
* Bridgemead
* Hunters Retreat
* Kabega
* Parsons Ridge
* Parsonsvlei
* Francis Evatt Park
* Morningside
* Baywest
* Sherwood
* Lorraine
* Malabar
* Barcelona
* Gelvandale
* Walmer Heights
* Greenshields Park
* Fairview
* Walmer Downs
* KwaNobuhle

Immediate Interventions Underway

To stabilise the system and support affected communities, the municipality is implementing several emergency measures:

* Deployment of water tankers to priority areas experiencing prolonged outages.
* Continuous optimisation of water treatment and pumping operations to maximise available supply.
* Close monitoring and management of reservoir levels across all supply zones.
* Ongoing efforts to secure and stabilise chemical supplies required for water treatment.
* Public awareness campaigns encouraging residents to reduce water consumption.

The municipality urgently appeals to all residents and businesses to use water responsibly and avoid unnecessary consumption. Every litre saved helps preserve reservoir levels and improves the municipality’s ability to maintain supply to all communities.

Residents are encouraged to report water leaks immediately and to limit water usage to essential household needs only while the system remains under severe pressure.

The municipality acknowledges the frustration and inconvenience experienced by residents and assures communities that all available resources are being mobilised to restore stability to the metro’s water supply network.

*Good Morning*

Unfortunately, the municipality's landlines are currently down, leaving both ward offices and residents unable to report issues telephonically. This is due to the municipality's second failure in two years to pay the service provider.

In addition, the municipal app is currently offline.

Should you wish to submit your water meter readings, please email them to:
[email protected]

To report municipal service-related issues, please send an email to:
[email protected]

Regards,
Gert