More entities have joined efforts to avert Day Zero in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) in the Eastern Cape, where dam levels have reached a critically low level.
Alarm bells went off last month when levels in the Impofu Dam, near Humansdorp in the Eastern Cape, dropped so low that water extraction was not possible.
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) has announced that it is working with the NMB Municipality and other key stakeholders, including Gift of the Givers, to assist vulnerable and distressed communities.
The assistance includes the delivery of water, donation of community water tanks for storage, and the installation of several solar-powered groundwater harvesting and treatment projects.
CCBSA this week said it was committed to supporting residents of NMB as part of broader water crisis relief and assistance efforts.
CCBSA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Gift of Givers, which will see the beverages bottling company’s trucks support the foundation with the distribution of water to struggling communities in the Bay area.
The first water delivery through this initiative was done on 23 June 2022.
The company has further donated 20 x 5,000 Litre Jojo tanks which will be placed at identified water collection points around the city.
This initiative is intended to support the rapid roll-out of collection point sites as outlined in the Municipality’s response plan.
In addition, 500 water wheelers will be distributed to communities to aid with water collection and storage.
CCBSA is also working on the deployment of three Coke Ville sites, which are off-grid, solar-powered groundwater harvesting and treatment projects.
The sites will have a combined total of nine systems, or water tanks, with minimum annual potential of replenishing 90 million litres per annum at no cost to the beneficiaries.
The Coke Ville sites will come online in August 2022. These are being deployed to the worst affected areas within Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality such as Walmer.
“Consistent access to clean running water remains a challenge for many rural and peri-urban communities across South Africa, and with global warming, the situation is getting worse,” said Nozicelo Ngcobo, CCBSA’s Public Affairs, Communication, and Sustainability Director.
“Having access to clean running water is the difference between compromised human health and socio-economic development. Hence our efforts to assist where we can during this water crisis.”
Ngcobo said CCBSA was committed to doing everything, including making available its human and financial resources to preserve water and support vulnerable communities.
“As part of this, we will continue to assist government and relief organisations to help our communities through this crisis,” said Ngcobo.
In addition, CCBSA was implementing a structured plan to secure alternative water supply sources to minimise societal impact.
NMB local government officials have warned water for drinking, washing, flushing toilets and fighting fires will be severely limited in the coming days.
“We are working with all relevant role-players on interventions to ensure the preservation of available water sources for as long as possible, to procure water from alternative sites, and to work alongside relief organisations to provide water for distressed and vulnerable communities,” said Ngcobo.
AVERTING DAY ZERO: Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa is deploying three Coke Villes, which are off-grid, solar-powered groundwater harvesting and treatment plants and is also distributing 500 water wheelers
