Residents urged to use water sparingly
Prolonged drought conditions have put the system under severe pressure.
In response to a call by the National Department of Water and Sanitation, the City of Ekurhuleni is implementing measures to curb water consumption by 15 per cent.
A government gazette notice published on August 12 instructed water boards and municipalities to reduce their abstraction of water from the Integrated Vaal River System.
This is due to prolonged drought conditions over the past few years that have put the system under severe pressure.
Residents throughout the City may have already started experiencing low water pressure as a result of pressure management initiated by the City.
This means that upper floors may experience situations of very little or no water.
Ekurhuleni assures its residents that all water reduction measures will be implemented in a responsible manner.
To respond adequately to water leaks, the City has increased capacity to respond to complaints laid by the public.
Members of the public are requested to report leaks through the EMM Call Centre and obtain a reference number.
The replacement of aged water infrastructure will be treated with utmost urgency.
While the municipality put into action these measures, residents and business are equally urged to use water sparingly and refrain from any irrigation activities between the hours of 6am and 6pm.
No filling of swimming pools from the municipal water supply will be permitted nor the use of hosepipes and sprinklers for watering, washing cars or cleaning outdoor areas.
The City will implement fines in terms of the municipal bylaws for all those founds to be contravening these restrictions.
The City of Ekurhuleni will further apply zero tolerance to illegal connection of water.
“We will soon announce additional water restrictions as well as the punitive tariff that will be applied,” said metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe.
Residents are encouraged to continue reporting water service-related interruptions through the call centre on 086 054 3000 and through social media channels @EMM_Call_Centre and the City of Ekurhuleni’s Facebook page.
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