Knysna’s drying future: How a South African town is racing to save its water

People all over South Africa and even outside of it know about Knysna's peaceful lagoon, lush forests, and beautiful coastline along the famous Garden Route. Every year, thousands of people come to the town to enjoy its beaches, wildlife, and laid-back way of life.

Tourism is the main source of income for many people who live there.But behind this peaceful image, Knysna is facing one of the most serious challenges in its recent history. The town is running out of water!According to reports by the BBC, local authorities have declared a state of disaster as water supplies continue to fall. The main storage dam, Akkerkloof, holds only enough water for around 20 days. At the same time, more than half of the town’s treated drinking water is lost through leaking pipes.

This means that even the limited water available is not reaching homes and businesses efficiently.With a population of around 100,000 people, Knysna is now approaching what officials call “day zero”. This is the point when municipal taps may run dry. The crisis is already having an effect on healthcare, tourism, daily life, and communities that are already weak. It also highlights wider problems facing water systems across South Africa.

Understanding Knysna’s water crisis

Shrinking water reservesKnysna depends mainly on the Akkerkloof Dam for its water supply. The water level in this dam has dropped a lot in the last few months. Dry weather patterns and reduced rainfall have limited natural replenishment.As per BBC reports, the dam currently has enough water for only about three weeks under present usage levels. This doesn't leave much room for mistakes. A technical failure, a delay in repairs, or a rise in demand could all cause the system to fail.Knysna doesn't have as many backup water sources as bigger cities do. This makes the town even more vulnerable when its main source of water runs low.Failing infrastructureOne of the biggest problems is water loss through damaged pipes. Around 55 percent of clean, treated water is lost before it reaches consumers. This happens because of old, cracked, and poorly maintained infrastructure.Many pipes in Knysna were installed decades ago. Over time, they have worn down due to corrosion, ground movement, and lack of repairs.

When leaks are not fixed quickly, water flows into the ground instead of homes.Mayor Thando Matika told the BBC that maintenance had been neglected for years. Previous administrations often said there was no money for repairs. As a result, even boreholes drilled in 2009 stopped working properly.This long period of underinvestment has now created a serious emergency.

How the crisis is affecting daily life in South Africa’s Knysna

Retirement home left without waterOne of the clearest examples of the crisis occurred in October, when a retirement centre in Knysna ran out of water for ten days.

A municipal water plant malfunctioned, leaving residents without a supply.The centre’s owner, Franco de Grandis, was forced to invest 250,000 South African rand in a backup water system. He told the BBC, “We need water in the apartments; we need water when people are bedridden in nappies. Without water, we cannot function.”Water is important for hygiene, medical care, and comfort for elderly residents who depend on caregivers.

Daily life would be impossible without it.This event showed how weak the system had become.Households struggling to copeMany households now rely on water tanks, boreholes, or private suppliers. Those who can afford it install backup systems. Others depend on municipal tankers.Residents are being asked to limit their water use to 50 litres per person per day. This includes drinking, washing, cooking, and cleaning. For comparison, the average person in the UK uses about 142 litres per day.Activities such as watering gardens, filling swimming pools, and washing boats with municipal water are banned.For families, this means changing once normal habits. Showers are shorter. Laundry is done less often. Dishes are washed carefully. Every drop matters.

Emergency help from aid organisations

Gift of the Givers steps inAs the situation worsened, the non-governmental organisation ‘Gift of the Givers’ began providing emergency water. The group drilled private boreholes and delivers thousands of litres of water every day to residents who cannot afford their own systems.Mario Ferreira, the organisation’s local coordinator, told the BBC: “There is serious gratitude from the people when we arrive. The disturbing thing is that the people start thinking this is the way of life and it shouldn’t be.”While the help is vital, it is meant to be temporary. Aid groups cannot replace a functioning public water system in the long term.Their presence shows how serious the crisis has become.Community dependence on water deliveriesIn some neighbourhoods, water trucks are now part of daily life.

Residents wait in queues with containers. Children and elderly people often carry heavy buckets.This system is tiring, uncertain, and unreliable. If trucks are delayed, families may go without water for days.For many people, this situation is becoming normal. Experts warn that this acceptance is dangerous because it hides deeper structural problems.

Knysna’s tourism under threat

Fear of “day zero”Tourism is central to Knysna’s economy. Visitors are important to hotels, restaurants, tour companies, and stores.

The idea of “day zero” worries business owners. They fear tourists will avoid the town if they believe water could run out.Elmay Bouwer, head of tourism at the Great Knysna Business Council, told the BBC that the term can cause panic.She said, “The name ‘day zero’ can inspire panic and seems threatening. We should instead tell people how to preserve the water we have.”Tourism officials now try to explain restrictions clearly to visitors.

They encourage responsible water use while assuring tourists that basic services are still available.Balancing honesty and confidenceTourism leaders have a hard job. They need to be honest about what's going on without making people scared for no reason.If tourists stop coming, a lot of people who work in the area will lose money. But hiding the crisis could hurt trust at the same time.The focus is now on promoting conservation and shared responsibility.

Wider water problems in South Africa

A national challengeExperts say Knysna’s crisis is not unique. Dr Ferial Adam of Watercan told the BBC that millions of South Africans already live with daily water shortages. She said, “For some millions in South Africa, ‘day zero’ is every day.”About half of the country’s population does not have running water at home. Many communities rely on shared taps or water trucks. This shows that access inequality remains a major problem.Climate change and infrastructure decaySouth Africa faces rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns.

Droughts are becoming more frequent in some regions.At the same time, the water systems in many towns are getting old. Pipes, pumps, and treatment plants need to be kept in good shape all the time. When climate stress combines with poor management, systems begin to fail.Knysna represents what can happen when these pressures meet.

Impact on vulnerable communities

Life in Khayalethu townshipIn poorer areas like Khayalethu township, water shortages have been common for years.Khanyiswa Sewula, a 60-year-old resident, told the BBC about her struggles, “You cannot live without water, but we’re often left without it for days at a time.”She explained that she must walk long distances to collect water from municipal tankers, even though she has difficulty walking. For older people, people with disabilities, and single parents, this situation is especially hard.Unequal access to backup solutionsPeople with more money can buy tanks, filters, and pumps. Poorer families cannot.

This creates unequal access to basic needs. Those with money stay comfortable. Others face daily hardship.Experts say any long-term solution must address this imbalance.

Government response and funding

Emergency supportThe national government has provided about $1.25 million in emergency funding to Knysna. This money is meant to support urgent repairs and temporary solutions. Local authorities say it will help stabilise the system while longer-term plans are developed.

Experts, on the other hand, say that emergency funding alone won't fix years of neglect.Repair and expansion plansAccording to the BBC, the municipality is working on several projects:

The goal of these steps is to increase the supply and lower the pressure on the main dam.

Long-term solutions for water security

Building new infrastructureKnysna plans to build another dam in the future. This would make more room for storage and give you a safety buffer when it's dry. The town also plans to put water meters in homes that don't have them or that have broken ones.

Accurate measurement helps find leaks and keep track of how much is being used.These kinds of projects take years and a lot of money. But without them, future crises are likely.Improving maintenance systemsExperts say that maintenance needs to be a top priority. Checking pipes, pumps, and treatment plants on a regular basis can keep big problems from happening. Repairs done early are much less expensive than replacements done in an emergency. It's also important to train employees and make management systems better.A warning for other townsKnysna’s situation is being watched closely across South Africa. Many towns face similar challenges: ageing infrastructure, limited budgets, and climate pressure.If these problems are not addressed early, more communities could reach “day zero”.According to BBC, Knysna is not just facing a local problem. It is highlighting a national risk.