TOTT 6 October 2016.compressed

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October 6, 2016
Calm returns after
borehole dispute
ROB KNOWLES
IN contrast to a
previous meeting, when
farmers walked out on
proceedings, this time a
meeting between
farmers, Amatola Water
and independent
geohydrology
specialists SRK
Consulting last Friday at
Zest Café ended
a m i c a b l y.
Aside from councillor
Ray Schenk, there were
no representatives from
Ndlambe Municipality
present.
Boreholes on farms
around the area have
run dry, and farmers are
angry that Amatola
Water has used up
groundwater essential
to their cattle and crops
to feed Port Alfred with
potable water as part of
its bulk water project.
The company has sunk
boreholes at various
farms in the area, a
contentious issue
among many of the
farmers present, and
farmers feel they are
being strong-armed by
Amatola Water and that
their problems are not
being listened to, let
alone addressed.
“If proven that our
boreholes seriously
affect the livelihoods of
the farmers, the DWS
[Department of Water
and Sanitation] will not
allow us to continue,”
said Steve Landolt,
project manager for
Amatola Water’s call
down unit, responsible
for the Ndlambe bulk
water project.
“We need to measure
the impact of our
extraction of the water
before we can make
any plans. But I want to
assure you there is no
pre-set outcome. This is
just an attempt to make
sure we are in
possession of the
correct data to make a
decision, and your
cooperation is
essential,” Landolt said.
Due to some bad
experiences in the past,
farmers are concerned
about allowing Amatola
Water access to their
properties. Also, the
statistics as presented
by the previous analysts
were hotly disputed by
farmers and hence the
appointment of SRK
Consulting.
There were also
contentious issues
around the licensing of
boreholes by fa r m e r s ,
as well as the use by
Amatola Water and
Ndlambe Municipality
of boreholes after the
licence to use them had
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expired.
After Landolt had
given his assurances
that there was no
prescribed outcome for
the analysis, and that
the DWS would not
allow a project to
continue that seriously
harmed farms or the
ecology, farmers agreed
to cooperate.
Amatola Water will
therefore sink boreholes
and install loggers
(equipment to monitor
essential data) which
will be regularly
inspected and
maintained.
Another problem in
the past has been the
loss of water from
leaking pipes and
pumps and the
subsequent water
wastage. SRK will
monitor levels and
flows and, in conjunction
with water-flow
meters at the
municipality, should be
able to determine how
much water is being
lost due to leakages.
Eunice Goossens
from SRK explained
some of the
technicalities and
promised to address
some of the farmers’
issues before the next
meeting, scheduled for
10am at Zest Café on
Friday November 18.
Winners chosen in photo competition
A WINNER has been chosen
from the hundreds of entries
in the ES Young/TotT
Photographic Competition,
with a grand prize of R1 000
going to Tony Hutchinson for
his photo of Port Alfred’s
iconic Nico Malan Bridge in
silhouette and reflected in
the Kowie River.
Competition judge Andrew
Elliott said of Hutchinson’s
photo: “This is quintessential
Port Alfred – the bridge and
a beautiful sunset. The
colours are spectacular, the
composition is great.”
He was also enthusiastic
about runner-up Allan
Po u l t n e y ’s photo.
“Yet another quintessential
Port Alfred scene, with a
beautiful sunset. I love the
sun positioned between the
branches as well as the jetty
and reflection – great shot!”
Poultney wins R500.
EMBRACED BY SUN AND LEAVES: In second place in the ES
Young/Talk of the Town Photographic Competition is this
photo by Allan Poultney, also taken this year
QUINTESSENTIAL KOWIE: The winning photo in the ES Young/Talk of the Town Photographic
Competition is by Tony Hutchinson, taken in July