Towns in the Hantam local municipality of the Northern Cape, are facing a severe water shortage.
The latest figures show there are 4591 households in the municipality, which consists of people living in Loeriesfontein, Nieuwoudtville, Brandvlei, Calvinia, Middelpos and Swartkop. The municipality forms part of the Namakwa District Municipality.
Calvinia is the most recent town in the Hantam municipality to battle with a water problem.
Riaan van Wyk, the acting municipal manager for the Hantam Municipality, said Calvinia, which usually receives winter rain had received only 30ml, compared to the expected rainfall of 200ml each year.
The Karee dam, which supplies the town, dried up at the end of last year and, as a result, borehole water is being pumped to supply the households in the area.
Van Wyk said the borehole water goes through a filtering system and then is pumped to households. The borehole water has been used since last month.
However, residents claim the water is undrinkable as it is foul tasting and smelling.
This they blame on the filtering system.
They say the water is used only for washing themselves and instead they buy drinking water from shops in the area, which filter the borehole water themselves.
But Van Wyk, said the water was safe to drink and tasted different to the dam water because it contained more salt than usual.
The locals also complained about the borehole water making people sick.
Van Wyk again said this was due to the salt in the water. However, he said he has not been informed of anybody getting sick as a result of drinking the water from the taps.
