ABERDEEN NEWS - According to a notice published by the municipality on 3 January, "the [water] status in Aberdeen is critical, water is carted to communities".

Some residents of Lotusville and Thembalesizwe claim to have been without water, or had extremely low water pressure, for several weeks now. The higher part of Douglas Street, near the cemetery, has been particularly badly affected, as has the Thangana Street area of Thembalesizwe. 

A Lotusville resident (who has had barely a trickle of water for three weeks) was allegedly told that a pressure pump is needed, but that there has been a problem connected to the tender to complete the work. 

A query regarding this was sent to the municipality, but no response was received by the time of going to press. According to a local municipal official, all nine boreholes are in working order, and all the pumps are functioning normally. 

There is just not enough water to meet the demand, especially over the holiday period when many people returned to Aberdeen to visit friends and family. 

Tankers have been circulating in Thembalesizwe and Lotusville, for which the residents are grateful. However, residents in the high-lying areas of the town are also often without water, and claim that the tankers never go to these areas. 

Many of those living above the main road have been struggling, often with just a little water first thing in the mornings. The Kamdebo Padstal, near the bypass, has had hardly any water for a week now, during what is their busiest time of the year. 

Owner Hannelie van der Westhuizen has tank water to use for washing up, but told the Advertiser that her biggest problem is the lack of water for the toilets. "Tourists stopping for a break almost always want to use the toilet," she said.

DA PR councillor Eldrige Ruiters, who lives in Lotusville, urges communities to use water wisely. "If necessary, people should ask for trucks to visit their areas through the municipal office, and also alert their respective ward councillor," said Ruiters.

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