uMgungundlovu Municipality was forced to implement water restrictions on Pietermaritzburg due to low dam levels.
|||Durban - The below average rainfall to the dams supplying Pietermaritzburg has forced the uMgungundlovu Municipality to implement 15% water restrictions.
The plan is to restrict water supply during off-peak times from 9pm to 4am.
The restriction plan, in its pilot phase, would be implemented in phases, starting with areas in Mngeni, Mkhambathini and Richmond.
In the announcement on Thursday, uMgungundlovu district mayor, Yusuf Bhamjee, made an impassioned plea to domestic and commercial consumers to use water sparingly.
The mayor said KwaZulu-Natal’s major dams were at critical levels and drastic action was needed.
But he noted that things would have been far worse had it not been for the construction of Spring Grove Dam, commissioned by President Jacob Zuma in 2014.
“Had that decision not been made and implemented, we would be talking about a complete water shutdown, with unimaginable consequences,” Bhamjee said.
The level of Spring Grove, which serves Pietermaritzburg and its surrounds, is at 84.4%, while Midmar Dam is at 46% and Albert Falls at 37.5%.
Bhamjee said Spring Grove had made it possible for the municipality to avoid restrictions for a while, but conditions were now critical.
He said residents might be under the impression the recent rainfall had improved the situation, but this was not the case.
“It may be assisting the agricultural sector in terms of their produce and livestock, but the situation remains dire,” he said.
He warned that if residents, business and farming sectors did not respond to the call to conserve water, the restrictions might increase.
Added to the 15% restrictions, a phased programme of installing inlet restrictors to households throughout the district would begin this month.
Bhamjee warned defaulters, especially businesses, they would be disconnected and fined for non-payment of water services.
He said an average of 42.21 mega litres were used in uMgungundlovu a day, and the district would now work to reduce this to 35.88 litres a day, by installing restrictors.
Bhamjee said the below average rainfall over the past 30 months was taking its toll on all municipalities in KZN.
uMgungundlovu Municipality would work with NGO Mvula Trust to help consumers reduce their water consumption.
“We all need to make a meaningful change if we adapt our behaviour towards water usage so that we can protect this precious resource,” Bhamjee said.
Residents and businesses were urged to contact the municipality’s water and sanitation centre at 0800 864 911 to report leaks and for any queries.
Daily News
