THE city will not be water shedding parts of Durban after a schedule began circulating on social media on Monday. That’s the word from the uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, after a discussion during the eThekwini executive committee this morning.
“At this stage, there will not be water shedding or twice weekly cuts of water as has been reported on social media and newspapers. The city will be inserting water restricting washers into residential meters, thereby effectively cutting the volume and pressure by 50 per cent.
“Ednick Msweli, the head of the water department, has not given us a schedule of when these restrictors will be implemented or what areas will be affected. I have written to him urgently requesting this information. Dam levels are critically low. If we do not start saving 15 per cent very soon, there is an extremely real possibility that water shedding will happen. Water shedding will not begin without major and sustained public consultation and information being given out,” he said.
De Boer added that an investigation has been launched into who leaked the internal document detailing the water shedding timetables.
“This document is an internal council document but was not for public consumption. It was a draft of what likely shedding schedules would be if water shedding is initiated. Mr Msweli has said the document was not leaked from his office. Plans to fine people who do not consistently save 15 per cent in their water bill will go ahead. This is something the DA voted against in council,” he said.
