Joburg Water managing director, Lungile Dhlamini said, “It’s not because we are downplaying the gravity of the emerging threat or risk upon us. We were and are continuing to monitor Rand Water dam levels on a daily basis and communicating [with them]… We strongly urge all our communities and water users to use water responsibly and sparingly.”
Spokesperson for Rand Water, Justice Mohale, had said persistent high temperatures in Rand Water’s area of supply had placed a strain on its bulk water supply system. Mohale said, “The lack of rainfall has exacerbated the situation. The high water demand is projected to cause localised problems in some parts of the City of Johannesburg, the City of Tshwane and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.”
He added that the entity’s bulk water supply system was concerning, yet stable for now. “Rand Water and its municipal customers are in discussions on how to jointly manage the situation. All consumers are urged to use water sparingly.”
Dhlamini said the City of Johannesburg is about to table a revised bylaw to restrict watering gardens as a matter of water conservation. He appealed to the public to refrain from watering their gardens from 6am to 6pm.
He said in the event of the drought worsening, the Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane would issue a directive by decree to impose water restrictions.
The City has partnered with the Borehole Water Association of Southern Africa to produce current hydro-geological maps to promote responsible drilling of boreholes within the city, and would be making an announcement on this initiative soon.
Furthermore, the water entity was commencing with one of their water conservation management programmes under the Jozi@work initiative, War on Leaks, at 500 schools to fix plumbing leaks in the schools’ ablution facilities.
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