City to address residents’ water concerns
The meeting will be held tonight at Chelsea Preparatory School.
RESIDENTS will have a chance to grill City officials this week over the status of the dam levels and the municipality’s plans to deal with the drought at a public meeting. Last week, the municipality’s communications department said it had implemented stage 3 nightly shut-offs in all areas which meant areas would be without water for 11 hours. However, if the water situation doesn’t improve, the City will be forced to look at day-time shut-offs.
uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, said the meeting would provide an opportunity for the City to address residents’ frustrations.
“It’s going to be an emotional issue and we are urging residents to respect the officials on the night. Both Shaun Ryley and I have received numerous complaints about this issue. We’ve been told the shutdowns at the 124 reservoirs across the city are from 7pm to 6am. This should mean all wards and all areas are affected. However, the City has admitted that not all areas are shut-off currently because of technical issues,” he said.
De Boer added, the continuation of watering verges by residents and the parks department is a concern.
“The ongoing wastage of water by residents and the City irks me. Driving around my ward, I notice residents washing their cars and watering their verges. We cannot afford to do that in this time of drought. I’ve also asked the City manager to place a blanket ban on the watering of municipal gardens, verges and grass with potable water. It’s highly unfair and irresponsible for anyone to use drinking water for irrigation in the current climate,” he said.
- THE meeting will take place on Thursday, 16 February at Chelsea Preparatory School (Northway Campus) at 6pm sharp. City officials from the water department will discuss shut-off schedules, the status of dam levels, the city plans on the drought and what you can do to help.
