Knysna's Water Crisis: A Growing Concern for South African Residents

Wed Feb 04 2026 09:56:36 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Knysna, a popular tourist destination in South Africa, faces a potential water crisis, local authorities declare a state of disaster amid fears of 'day zero'.

The picturesque town of Knysna in South Africa is grappling with a severe water crisis, leading to the declaration of a state of disaster. Residents face the fear of 'day zero', a moment when taps could run dry, amidst infrastructure failures and changing climate patterns. With an estimated 55% of drinking water lost to leaks and ongoing drought conditions, both authorities and NGOs are mobilizing to address the crisis through emergency measures and conservation efforts. This situation not only affects the local population but also poses challenges for the tourism industry.

Fears that the taps in the South African tourist resort of Knysna, with its turquoise water, sandy beaches and pleasant weather, could soon run dry - a moment known as day zero - have prompted a state of disaster to be declared.

It is a scary prospect for the 100,000 residents who live in an area situated along South Africa's famous Garden Route, a 150km (93-mile) stretch of seaside towns with forested and mountainous scenery on the southern coast.

But it is the latest South African town to be hit by a severe water crisis, caused by the failure to maintain infrastructure and changing weather patterns. Beneath the pretty veneer of Knysna - which is also a retirement haven for more affluent South Africans - its water system is on the brink of collapse.

Official estimates suggest that around 55% of the town's drinkable water is lost to leaking pipes. It is a problem compounded by the fact that the town has been hit by a drought, leading to a sharp drop in water levels at its main storage dam.

When we visited the area last week, Akkerkloof dam had just 20 days' worth of reserves. But it is not clear when exactly day zero will hit as the authorities have stepped in with water restrictions and emergency funding.

A retirement centre in Knysna has already experienced its version of day zero - when a fault at a local municipal plant left the elderly residents without any water for 10 days last October. This prompted owner, Franco de Grandis, to invest in a back-up water supply for the facility.

We need water in the apartments; we need water when people are bedridden in nappies. Without water, we cannot function, he told the BBC.

Non-governmental organisations like Gift of the Givers have also stepped in to throw a lifeline to residents who cannot afford back-up measures. From privately dug boreholes, they bring thousands of litres of water in tankers almost daily to the town.

There is serious gratitude from the people when we arrive, Gift of the Givers' local coordinator Mario Ferreira told the BBC.

Yet, there are fears queuing for water rations will become a reality unless a solution is found. Water is a basic right. It's frustrating that the town has come to this, De Grandis said.

In office for 11 months, Mayor Thando Matika acknowledges the problems, but is quick to point out that he inherited them from his predecessors. The municipality has for years not been doing maintenance. They said there was no money. Even the boreholes dug in 2009 were not working anymore, he told the BBC.

His council has now received an emergency cash boost from the national government of $1.25m to deal with the crisis. Plans include fixing the town's seven boreholes and desalination plant as well as drilling for an extra borehole in the short term.

Looking at how to recycle water and building another dam are part of its longer-term focus. Restrictions were put in place in January, including reducing the town's water pressure and banning watering gardens, filling pools and washing boats with municipal water.

The name 'day zero' can inspire panic and seems threatening, said Elmay Bouwer, who heads the tourism section of the Great Knysna Business Council and also runs a bed and breakfast. We should instead tell people how to preserve the water we have. We tell the international tourists about the restrictions, but we also want to make sure they have a good time here.

Experts agree that the situation in Knysna reflects a larger crisis facing South Africa as a whole. Dr. Ferial Adam of campaign group Watercan emphasized that for millions in South Africa, 'day zero' is every day. She points to deeper issues of access and infrastructure that have been left to deteriorate over time, compounded by climate change.\

This challenge is particularly apparent in areas such as Khayalethu township, where water supply is irregular; although the 'day-zero anxiety' has at least brought attention to their daily struggles.

As Knysna looks for solutions to secure its water future, residents remain hopeful but acutely aware of the stakes involved in this ongoing crisis.