ETHEKWINI Municipality has reinstated Stage 3 water restrictions following the news that the level of the Albert Falls Dam has dropped to 26.1 per cent as at 20 January 2017 and some local reservoirs have run dry.
In December 2015, a proactive decision was taken by the Department of Water and Sanitation to impose restrictions to the greater Umgeni River system by 15 per cent which has not been achieved for domestic, industrial, commercial consumers and 50 per cent for farming and irrigation.
In a media statement today, Saturday 21 January, eThekwini Municipality said it had requested a relaxation of the restrictions during the festive season to cater for the increased demand by holidaymakers to the city.
However, the demand exceeded the supply during this time, causing a strain on the water network system.
The 15 per cent curtailment was reinstated on Monday, 16 January 2017. The net effect resulted in Mt Moriah Reservoir running dry after feeding 16 reservoirs downstream of it. These reservoirs feed water to areas of Pinetown, Pinetown South, New Germany, Westville and their surrounds.
This is a step-pumping system which means that the first line reservoir has to reach a certain level of water before pumps can start pumping to the next one. When this system is affected, it does not only affect the reservoirs but also the reticulation as well, as whatever supply that is received goes to the reticulation making building up storage to the reservoirs even longer.
Depending on where the consumers are in relation to their reservoir zone, whenever there are interruptions in the system, high level zones or those residing next to the reservoir will be the first to run out of water and those in the low level zone will be the last. When water is restored the low level will get water first, the system will fill up and the high level will get water last.
The question of rolling out restrictions evenly in the systems is not practical as one system may achieve savings and the other may not, forcing Umgeni Water to reduce the water supply as instructed by the Department of Water and Sanitation in the gazette.
There are indications that the Department of Water and Sanitation is looking into increasing the restrictions from 15 per cent, which is not being achieved, to 20 percent as the dam levels are still low and the demand has not been reduced by the consumers. This has necessitated the implementation of stage 3 restrictions.
The Municipality warns people to refrain from using sprinklers, hosepipes, filling their swimming pools, washing vehicles using hosepipes, etc, during the drought situation. The City will deal with illegal connections, high consumption and illegal car washes. Penalties will be imposed to those who do not adhere to the restriction rules imposed.
The public is urged to report all leaks, illegal use of water and bursts on the following platforms.
To view table explaining the different restrictions, click on the following link:
https://www.durban.gov.za/Resource_Centre/new2/Documents/infotable.pdf
Customer Care line: 080 13 13 013
WhatsApp Fault Report line: 073 148 3477
SMS: 43554
Email: Eservices@durban.gov.za
