City urges residents to save water
The public is urged to continue to use water wisely to mitigate the effect of the drought.
DESPITE recent rains, the drought situation still remains a challenge in eThekwini Municipality, however, a number of interventions have been implemented by the Municipality to ensure that taps do not run dry.
The city’s Head of Water and Sanitation, Ednick Msweli presented a report to Exco at a special meeting, before the full council meeting.
Msweli said the report indicated to have impose restrictions on water supply ranging from 15 to 50 per cent to preserve the available storage.
Currently Midmar Dam is at 48.06 per cent capacity, Albert Falls at 24.5 per cent and Inanda Dam is sitting at 63.41 per cent capacity.
Msweli said the total storage in the uMgeni System at the beginning of August 2016 was 48 per cent compared to the level of 72 per cent at the same time last year.
He said Umgeni Water would continue to reduce supply to the City in line with the Minister of Water and Sanitation’s directive to reduce demand by 15 per cent.
Msweli said: “The Water and Sanitation Unit has relied on water tankers which are deployed daily in areas that are known to have water supply challenges for various reasons including areas not yet reached by the Western and Northern aqueducts, areas affected by the drought curtailments and areas where there is currently no reticulated water supply.”
The report also claimed that while some weather reports say that above average rainfall is expected in the early parts of 2017, other reports suggest that the drought could continue for at least a further 12 months. However, if ‘good’ rain was received before the next dry season (winter 2017), it may not be sufficient to fill the water supply dams to high enough levels to see the city through until the following rainy season (summer 2017/2018).
“Further steps taken to improve turnaround times included the hiring of 103 Extended Public Works Programme employees who have been deployed in some wards to expedite the reporting of faults including water pipe bursts and leaks as well as supply interruptions. This is intended to reduce wastage of water,” said Msweli.
A WhatsApp reporting line was also launched recently to help customers speedily report faults.
Contractors who were employed to do new connections are also being trained and upgraded to category A in order to increase the number of plumbers available to carry out repairs. The filling of vacant, funded maintenance posts is also being expedited to increase internal maintenance capacity. These measures will help improve reporting and turnaround time.
Finally, requirements for vehicles, plant and equipment are also being assessed to match the additional human resources that may be sourced and the installation of restrictors in individual homes is ongoing. Mayor Zandile Gumede welcomed the interventions but suggested that other alternatives to provide affected communities with water be explored. This included JoJo tanks and boreholes.
“Staff should be trained and utilised to carry out repairs. We welcome these interventions as the drought is very serious. However, where costs can be minimised, it must be,” she said.
EThekwini residents are urged to report illegal water connections and water leaks by calling 080 1313013. Residents can also SMS 43554 or email Eservices@durban.gov.za.
Residents may also make use of the recently launched WhatsApp Water Reporting number, 073 148 3477. Customers will at times be asked to take pictures of the leaks or bursts to allow correct coding of faults to be done at capturing stage.
