Rain boosts water supply for summer

GEORGE NEWS - A total of 123,5mm of rain was measured in George between 22 and 29 October to fill the Garden Route Dam to overflowing, a reassuring starting base for the increased usage anticipated over summer and with visitors arriving for the December holiday.

Heavy showers fell through Sunday night, 27 October, and at 08:00 on Monday morning, 50mm was recorded at Witfontein. With the rain also came strong winds with gusts of up to 81km/h measured in the Witfontein area and up to 79km/h at George Airport, according to Robin-Lee Batties, client liaison officer at the Cape Town weather office.

Garden Route Disaster Management Chief Gerhard Otto said in the Ruiterbos area, wind of more than 100km/h was measured and a farm shed was blown over.

Meiringspoort and Swartberg Pass, that were closed, have been reopened but motorists are asked to drive with caution while wet and possibly slippery conditions last.

ALSO READ: Garden Route Dam level update

Debra Sauer, communications officer at George Municipality, said Community Services teams attended to and cleared fallen branches and trees in various areas around Heather Park, Heatherlands, Denver Park and Loerie Park. Parts of Heather Park and Heatherlands were without power from Sunday night into Monday.

Sauer said Electrotechnical Services attended to a power interruption on Eike Avenue and Taaibos Street in Heather Park due to a tree that had fallen onto the electrical line. Power was restored.

Two adjacent properties in Camphersdrift Road suffered damage when a large tree snapped and fell onto the boundary fence of one property and the entrance gate of the other. A building on one of the properties was also damaged, according to the owner.

George Municipality has appealed to the public to adhere to the ongoing Level 2B water restrictions.

"The current water restrictions are aimed at the continued preservation of our drinking water resources in a responsible manner during the construction phases of the BFI (Budget Facility for Infrastructure Funding) projects, and in light of the anticipated influx of visitors over the approaching festive season," said Sauer.

The Garden Route Dam is overflowing. Photo: Neels Barnard