Residents in Ekurhuleni are urged to reduce their water consumption following calls from the National Department of Water and Sanitation.
The department implemented a planned two-month shutdown of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), on October 1, to allow for maintenance work on the tunnel system.
The LHWP augments the water resources in the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS), which provides water to Rand Water, the bulk water supplier for municipalities in the Gauteng province.
No water will be transferred to the IVRS for the duration of the shutdown.
Furthermore, the water levels in the IVRS were significantly lower at the beginning of this peak consumption season than they were this time last year.
In September 2018, the levels were standing at 81.4 per cent compared with the 66.3 per cent on September 2, 2019.
Last week the status of storage in the system was recorded at 74.8 per cent.
Although water restrictions have not been promulgated at this stage, residents and businesses in Ekurhuleni are reminded that the prohibition on irrigation between 7am and 5pm still applies.
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Follow these water-saving tips to reduce your consumption and thus preserve the available water resources:
• Turn the tap off between washing your face, brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Taking a five-minute shower a day, instead of a bath, will use a third of the water used bathing in a bathtub; if you prefer to bath, do not fill up the bathtub.
• Use low-flow showerheads, dual-flush toilet mechanisms and water-efficient washing machines.
• Fix leaking toilets and avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily by disposing of tissues, insects and other waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
• Do not excessively backwash your swimming pool.
• Use a bucket rather than a hose to wash your car and water the garden.
• Always water your plants during the early morning hours or in the evening when temperatures are cooler, to avoid losing water to evaporation.
• Plant indigenous and non-water-consumptive plants.
• Roof water can also be profitably stored in tanks, for watering gardens.
• Use “grey water” – used water from baths, washing machines and other safe sources – to water your garden.
Follow the City of Ekurhuleni on Twitter and Facebook for more tips on how to save water.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za.
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