GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Elderly residents of Graaff-Reinet's Huis van de Graaff are amongst those who have been badly affected by the recent water shortages in Graaff-Reinet.

According to residents and staff, this Home for older persons situated near the top end of Stockenstroom Street was without water for at least a month. In frustration, a resident phoned the Graaff-Reinet water emergency number after Christmas, and someone from the municipality went to the Home to investigate the cause of the problem. 

Allegedly, she was told that the valve which feeds water from the reservoir to the top end of Stockenstroom Street had been switched off.

The Advertiser was told that this is where a main water line splits, between Umasizakhe and the horseshoe area, but the municipality has not responded to a request for verification of this. The following day, on New Year's Eve, there was once again water in the taps, but this has not been constant.

The municipality has been sending a water truck to fill the tanks on a regular basis, and Gift of the Givers has also helped. A member of GRRPA, who brought the matter to Advertiser's notice, visited the Home and saw how water had to be carried by bucket to the toilets. "In one ablution area the bath is filled with water and a bucket needs to be carried to the other cubicles where there are toilets," she explained. 

"In another ablution area, a big wheelie bin is filled with water and toilets have to be flushed from this –not ideal for elderly folk."

This water has to be carried in from the tanks in buckets by the staff.

There are 44 residents in the Home, and they were not able to shower during this time. The chairperson of the board of the Home, Antoinette Steenkamp, explained that all hot water for washing had to be boiled on the gas stoves. "We also filled 5l bottles with tank water for the residents, so that they could at least have a wash at a basin," she said, adding that the less mobile had to make do with bed baths.

Some residents were also distressed, as they could not understand why their routine was disturbed. The Advertiser spoke to two of the residents, but both asked to remain anonymous. 

One elderly lady explained that there is a borehole on the property, but this water is only used for the laundry.

Adjacent to the Home is a small block of flat, also catering for the elderly. One resident told the Advertiser that in a very slow flow of water would sometimes come on late at night, usually after 10pm, and residents had to stay up late if they wanted to do their washing.

Despite the lack of water, the Advertiser was told that Huis van de Graaff has just received a municipal account for an amount of over R4 000.

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