The Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) has imposed Level 3 water restrictions as a result of the city not being compliant with the 15 per cent water use reduction target as prescribed by the water authorities.
Level 3 water restrictions means that the municipality is forced to ration water, therefore there will be no water supply to specified areas at specific times.
According to Lucky Chiya from RWCLM, the municipality is currently saving a mere 5,5 per cent of its normal water consumption. This must be increased to 15 per cent.
Certain Randfontein and Westonaria sections of Rand West City will be subject to Level 3 water restrictions from 10pm to 4am from Sunday through Thursday. Glenharvie, Westonaria, Venterspos and Dennydale will be subject to the same restrictions Monday through Sunday. Chiya said these measures will be implemented until further notice.
“South Africa is currently facing a national water crisis and we are appealing to communities to work with government in these difficult times by using water sparingly,” Chiya said.
It seems the community of Venterspos has been hardest hit by the lack of water. The Herald has received numerous phone calls from residents of the area who have been left without water for the past three days. This is because of the geographical location of the town, which Chiya said is at a high altitude – higher than the reservoir from which water has to be pumped in order to reach the residents. He said that until the reservoir fills to a certain mark, the water supply will not be restored.
Mathilde Botes, a Venterspos resident and owner of a soup kitchen in the area came forward about the community’s struggles regarding water. Mathilde advised that the area’s water went off on Sunday, 20 November and has not yet been restored. Mathilde said she contacted the RWCLM about the matter and claimed they have given different explanations as to why the water has been cut.
The most recent, she said, was as a result of water restrictions. “I understand water restrictions, I do. I don’t understand why only our water has been cut and not just for a few hours but for days on end,” she said.
The community now depends on water from a water truck that Mathilde said comes around once a day. She said the conditions in which they have to live now are appalling and all they want at this point is answers.
Chiya added to his comments, saying, “The municipality is committed to finding alternative measures in order to address the challenges faced in the area.”
He said the municipality has placed one 5 000 litre JoJo tank as well as a water tanker near the library in Venterspos. A 10 000 litre Jojo tank has also been placed in Hillshaven next to the Modderfontein Pre-School. These tanks are continuously monitored to ensure water is refilled timeously.
View the ‘water shedding’ schedule here.
Read more:
Reduce your water consumption – warns Government
Water restrictions for the whole Rand West City
