‘Save water or face fines’
Durban now faces water restrictions and anyone acting in breach of them after a written warning can expect a stiff fine.
|||The time has finally come. Durban now faces water restrictions and anyone acting in breach of them after a written warning can expect a stiff fine.
This follows measures by Umgeni Water to tighten the screws on water consumption as the possibility looms of water running out in the uMngeni system, which feeds four to five million people with the life-giving liquid.
“As a result of concerns at Umgeni Water over Midmar Dam and Albert Falls Dam reaching dead storage by year end, 15 percent reduction in water usage has been applied,” Shami Harichunder, spokesman for the water utility said.
“This restriction has been approved by the Director-General of the Department of Water and Sanitation and is to be gazetted. Once gazetted, the 15 percent restriction will become mandatory.”
The onus is on municipalities to enforce restrictions and eThekwini Municipality has warned of fines of R500 for domestic consumers and R10 000 for large businesses.
Spokeswoman Tozi Mthethwa said the city would restrict all domestic and industrial use by 15 percent of the annual target draft and restrict irrigation use by 50 percent of the annual target draft.
“The city will intensify the war on water leakages in commercial standpipes to reduce wastage and investigate and report back on initiatives to harvest rainwater,” she said.
“A programme, in addition to Masakhane (campaign) will be developed to help educate and empower community members on the drought and the preservation of water.”
By the time of publication, the uMgungundlovu Municipality, in charge of Pietermaritzburg, had not responded to requests for comment.
Umgeni Water’s Harichunder said: “There is a real possibility that if we don’t reduce water consumption there will be no water left. We can’t have that situation. It’s extremely serious. We do not want to get to that point… Midmar and Albert Falls could reach dead storage by end 2016, meaning there would be no water left in these dams.”
Harichunder said consumer habits and behaviour had to change. “People have to realise now they have to reduce water consumption.”
Yesterday Midmar Dam was 46 percent full and Albert Falls 37 percent. This time last year the dams had stood at 75 percent and 74 percent. Both are at their lowest level in 35 years.
“At this time of the year most – if not all – dams should be full to capacity or overflowing,” said Harichunder.
Other dams in the uMngeni system were in a better state: Spring Grove 84 percent; Mearns Dam 94 percent; Nagle Dam 77 percent and Inanda Dam 79 percent.
Harichunder said there had been a slight increase in the level of Hazelmere Dam, following about 70mm rainfall over the past three weeks.
Yesterday it stood at 35 percent full.
Water restrictions of 50 percent will remain in place in areas served by the dam, which includes Ballito, until the situation improves.
In the South Coast system, the Nungwane Dam – at 46 percent – was in more trouble than the EJ Smith Dam, which stood at 91 percent.
Harichunder explained that the Umzinto Dam was spilling due to water being transferred into it through an emergency scheme from the Mpampinyoni River.
Meanwhile, construction of one of the largest bulk potable water schemes in the province – the R1.4 billion Lower Thukela Bulk Water Supply Scheme (BWSS) – was progressing well and commissioning is scheduled to begin next month.
“The first water will flow through the 29km pipeline in April. The Lower Thukela BWSS will be able to take potable water as far south as Ballito - which will then free up water in Hazelmere Dam for redirection to eThekwini.”
Independent on Saturday