The plant, which was commissioned in 2011 at a cost of R200 million, boasts the ability to produce up to 10 megaliters of water per day for the municipality. (Photo: Provided)
While large parts of the Garden Route are currently suffering from the oppressive weight of a severe drought, the Mossel Bay desalination plant serves as a beacon of hope and proof of proactive planning.
With dam levels currently standing at around 66% and the municipality already suffering from active water restrictions, the strategic value of a diversified water supply has never been more clear.
On Monday, the Western Cape provincial parliament’s standing committee on infrastructure received, as part of an oversight visit before the provincial assembly (Sopa), a presentation by the Mossel Bay municipality on the crucial role that this facility plays.
‘Buffer against climate change’
The plant, which was commissioned in 2011 at a cost of R200 million, boasts the ability to produce up to 10 megaliters of water per day for the municipality. In a region where the total daily water consumption amounts to approximately 23 megalitres, this means that the plant can meet almost 45% of the town’s needs. This provides a safety net at a time when traditional sources are under tremendous pressure.
(Photo: Provided)
Dirk Wessels, the DA’s spokesperson on infrastructure in the Western Cape, praised the project as an example of forward-thinking management and emphasized how essential such infrastructure is for the community.
“What the Mossel Bay Municipality has achieved with this desalination plant is exactly the kind of progressive government we need right across the Western Cape. Parts of our province are in the grip of a drought, and communities are living under water restrictions.
“This plant serves as a water safety net that provides residents with sufficient water and at the same time helps to keep the local economy going.”
Strategic application pays off
The plant is strategically activated when the need is greatest. In the current financial year it has already proved its worth by providing water for three weeks in July 2025 and around three days during the busy December period.
According to Wessels, this targeted deployment is proof of how technology can be harnessed to strengthen a municipal water network.
(Photo: Provided)
“The strategic deployment of this plant highlights the critical role that desalination plays in improving the resilience of the municipal water network and navigating the region’s increasingly volatile climate.
“The DA in the Western Cape will continue to advocate proactive approaches to water resilience.”
The success of the Mossel Bay project is now presented as a model for other municipalities struggling with similar challenges. The combination of good maintenance and the ability to activate the plant only when needed offers a sustainable way forward for water security.
Wessels believes that the rest of the province can learn lessons from this.
“The Mossel Bay municipality’s approach serves as a blueprint for other municipalities across the province for innovative climate adaptation and long-term water security planning. We must act proactively to ensure that our water security is not left to chance.”