In response to a call by the National Department of Water and Sanitation, the metro 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 metro may have already started experiencing low water pressure as a result of pressure management initiated by the municipality since last Tuesday.
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 metro has increased capacity to respond to complaints laid by the public.
Members of the public are requested to report leaks by calling the call centre and must 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 urged to use water sparingly and refrain from any irrigation activities between 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 metro will implement fines in terms of the municipal by-laws for all those found to be contravening these restrictions.
The metro will further apply zero tolerance to the illegal connection of water.
Additional water restrictions, as well as the punitive tariff that will be applied will be announced soon.
Residents are encouraged to continue reporting water service related interruptions through the municipal call centre on 086 054 3000 and through social media channels @EMM_Call_Centre and the City of Ekurhuleni’s Facebook page.
Other articles you may be interested in:
Sewage leak fills Sunnyrock yard
