Ekurhuleni needs more help reaching water targets
Residents and business are urged to continue using water sparingly, make it a culture to save water and adhere to restrictions.
EKURHULENI Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) wishes to thank residents and businesses for making an effort to meet water savings targets.
The city made a call to residents and business on August 12, last year, to reduce water consumption by 15 per cent to ensure that the abstraction from the Vaal River System is reduced, as per the call from the national Department of Water and Sanitation.
To reach the 15 per cent target, Ekurhuleni implemented water restrictions and started rationing water to reduce consumption levels.
However, over the past three months, the 15 per cent weekly target was achieved in only two of the weeks.
According to Themba Gadebe, spokesperson for the EMM, the city needs to consume 842 618 kl every month to achieve a 15 per cent savings rate.
Any consumption below this means residents have used less water and therefore exceeded the 15 per cent target.
Any consumption above 842 618 kl means the city is using more water than the target and the percentage would dip below 15 per cent.
As of January 31, 2017, the Vaal Dam was at 63.5 per cent. With winter approaching, the dam needs to be at 80 per cent to enable the city to have sufficient water before summer rains begin later in the year.
The national department will review water restrictions in May.
Water restrictions are still in place and include:
- No watering of gardens between 06:00 and 18:00, or use of hosepipes.
- Repairing of water leaks.
- Reporting burst pipes or water leaks in the streets to 0860 543 000.
- Water rationing: The schedule can be downloaded at www.ekurhuleni.gov.za.
Residents and business are urged to continue using water sparingly, make it a culture to save water and adhere to restrictions, said Gadebe.
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