KwaZulu-Natal

Water supply has been interrupted in several parts of KwaZulu-Natal as the province battles ongoing heavy rains. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued an alert level 6 weather warning for the eastern regions and a level 4 warning for other parts, signalling severe conditions that have disrupted daily life. The uMngeni-uThukela Water Board, the province’s largest bulk water supplier, reports that the Mzumbe and Umdoni local municipalities on the KZN South Coast are facing reduced water volumes due to the adverse weather’s impact on critical infrastructure.

Heavy Rains Disrupt Water Supply Across KZN

KwaZulu-Natal is reeling from persistent downpours that have pushed rivers to capacity and strained water supply systems. The uMngeni-uThukela Water Board, responsible for delivering over 1.5 billion litres of potable water daily across the province, confirmed that its Mthwalume Water Treatment Works has been hit hard. This facility, which serves the Mzumbe and Umdoni municipalities in the Ugu District, is struggling to operate at full capacity due to high river levels clogging its abstraction system.

Spokesperson Siyabonga Maphumulo explained the situation: “Due to the recent heavy rains, the Mthwalume water treatment works which supply these municipalities has been adversely impacted by ongoing high river water levels.” He added, “As a result, the abstraction system which draws water from the Mthwalume River is unable to function efficiently and the water treatment works cannot draw the required daily raw water volumes for treatment.”

The affected areas include communities like Elysium, Bazley, Ifafa, Koelwater, Sezela, Mthwalume Urban, Qoloqolo, Nomakhazana, Sibanini, Bhekulwandle, Mfazazana, Sihlonyaneni, Nkambini, Bhunwini, Makhoso, Bangibizo, Dembese, Mathulini, Nyangwini, and Mgangeni. Residents here are either facing low water pressure or complete interruptions, with some relying on emergency water tankers dispatched by local authorities.

A Province Under Weather Siege

The SAWS warnings—level 6 in the east and level 4 elsewhere—highlight the severity of the rainfall battering KZN. Level 6 alerts indicate “extremely severe weather” with potential for widespread flooding, while level 4 signals “significant disruptions.” By 13 March 2025, rainfall totals in coastal areas like Durban exceeded 150 mm in 48 hours, per SAWS data reported by IOL. Inland regions, including the South Coast, saw similar deluges, pushing rivers like the Mthwalume to overflow.

This isn’t the first time heavy rains have disrupted water supply in KZN. In January 2024, the Mthwalume Water Treatment Works suffered storm damage when its temporary weir was washed away, cutting supply to the same municipalities. A statement from uMngeni-uThukela at the time noted repairs were underway, but the current crisis suggests ongoing vulnerabilities. “The harsh weather was affecting the functionality of water treatment works,” Maphumulo reiterated, underscoring a recurring challenge for the region’s aging infrastructure.

Elsewhere in KZN, the Hazelmere Dam hit 102% capacity by 4 March 2025, overflowing into the uMdloti River, according to IOL. While no water releases were planned, uMngeni-uThukela urged vigilance downstream. Meanwhile, the Lower Thukela Waterworks faced a pump failure on 15 January 2025, dropping reservoir levels and halting supply to KwaDukuza, per an official notice. These incidents paint a picture of a water system under strain from both nature and wear.

uMngeni-uThukela Water Board: Fighting the Elements

The uMngeni-uThukela Water Board, formed in 1974 and expanded in 2023 through a merger with Mhlathuze Water, manages water for KZN’s 12.42 million residents across a 94,359 km² area. It supplies bulk water to 14 water service authorities, including eThekwini Metro and Ugu District, making it a linchpin in the province’s infrastructure. But the latest rains have tested its resilience.

At Mthwalume, the treatment works’ abstraction system—a network of pumps and weirs that pulls raw water from the river—has been overwhelmed. High turbidity (cloudiness from sediment) and debris have clogged intakes, reducing the plant’s output from its usual 20 million litres per day to a fraction of that. “We’re working around the clock to clear blockages and restore normal flow,” Maphumulo said on 13 March, as reported by EWN. Yet, with forecasts predicting more rain through Sunday, 16 March, per SAWS, full recovery remains uncertain.

The board has a history of tackling such crises. In April 2022, floods damaged aqueducts feeding Durban Heights Water Treatment Works, costing R800 million in repairs, per a Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) statement. More recently, it completed upgrades at Darvill Wastewater Treatment Works to boost capacity by 2015 standards, though heavy rains still expose gaps. “We’re not just reacting; we’re planning ahead,” Maphumulo told The Mercury in February 2025, referencing a R7 billion uMkhomazi Water Project set to bolster supply by 2028.

The Human Toll: Communities Left Dry

For residents in Mzumbe and Umdoni, the water cuts are a harsh reality. Thandiwe Zondi, a mother of three in Mthwalume Urban, described her struggle: “We’ve had no tap water since Tuesday. I’m boiling river water for my kids, but it’s muddy and smells bad.” Her story echoes across the South Coast, where schools have closed, and businesses like Sipho Mkhize’s tuck shop in Ifafa are losing trade. “No water, no customers,” he sighed.

The Ugu District Municipality has rolled out water tankers, but supply is patchy. A municipal worker in Sezela, speaking anonymously to Daily News on 12 March, admitted, “We can’t reach everyone fast enough with this rain slowing us down.” Posts on X reflect the frustration: “KZN South Coast drowning but no water in taps—uMngeni-uThukela must fix this!” one user vented on 13 March.

This crisis compounds existing woes. In January 2024, uMngeni-uThukela reported similar interruptions after the Mthwalume weir washed away, affecting over 50,000 households. A year later, the same communities are back in the dark, raising questions about long-term fixes. “It’s like we’re stuck in a loop,” Zondi said.

A Climate and Infrastructure Challenge

KZN’s water woes are a stark reminder of South Africa’s broader climate vulnerability. The National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (2020) warns that rising rainfall intensity—up 10% in KZN since 1990—strains infrastructure built decades ago. Mthwalume’s temporary weir, installed post-2022 floods, is a case in point: it’s no match for today’s deluges.

Experts like Dr. Sarah Nxumalo, a hydrologist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, argue for urgent upgrades. “We need resilient systems—permanent weirs, flood-proof pumps, and bigger treatment plants,” she told TimesLIVE on 11 March 2025. “Temporary fixes won’t cut it anymore.” The uMkhomazi project, including a new dam and 100 Ml/d treatment plant, aims to address this, but completion is years away.

Meanwhile, municipal debt adds pressure. eThekwini alone owes uMngeni-uThukela R1.2 billion, per a January 2025 DWS report, limiting funds for repairs. “If we paid on time, maybe they’d fix things faster,” grumbled a Durban ratepayer on X. Across KZN, municipal arrears hit R78 billion, hobbling water boards’ ability to modernise.

Government and Community Response

The DWS, uMngeni-uThukela, and local municipalities are scrambling to respond. Minister Pemmy Majodina praised the board’s AA+ credit rating in October 2024, per IOL, signaling financial stability to fund repairs. On 13 March, Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube activated disaster teams, promising relief to flood-hit areas, including water-scarce zones

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