Residents of Ekurhuleni have been urged by the metro to save water, as per a call from the National Department of Water and Sanitation.
Metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe reiterated the fact that although water restrictions have not been put in place, at this stage it is still prohibited to irrigate between 7am and 5pm.
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He explained that on October 1, the department implemented a planned two-month shutdown of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) to allow for maintenance work on the tunnel system.
The LHWP augments the water resources in the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) which provides water to Rand Water, who are the bulk water supplier for municipalities in Gauteng.
No water will be transferred to the IVRS for the duration of the shutdown.
“Furthermore, the water levels in the IVRS were significantly lower at the beginning of this peak consumption season than they were this time last year,” Gadebe said.
“In September last year the levels were at 81.4 per cent compared to the 66.3 per cent on September 2 this year.”
Last week the status of storage in the system was recorded at 74.8 per cent.
The metro offered these water-saving tips to preserve the available resources:
• Turn the tap off between washing your face, brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Taking a five-minute shower a day instead of a bath, you will use a third of the water used bathing in a bathtub. If you prefer to bath, do not fill up the bath tub.
• Use low-flow showerheads, dual-flush toilet mechanisms and water-efficient washing machines.
• Fix leaking toilets.
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily by disposing of tissues, insects and other waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
• Do not excessively backwash your swimming pool.
• Use a bucket rather than a hose to wash your car and water the garden.
• Always water your plants during the early morning hours or in the evening when temperatures are cooler to avoid losing water to evaporation.
• Plant indigenous and non-water-consumptive plants.
• Roof water can also be profitably stored in tanks for watering gardens.
• Use “grey water” (used water from baths, washing machines and other safe sources) to water your garden.
