Atteridgeville residents urged to save water
Residents in Pretoria West have been experiencing water shortages since last week as supplying reservoirs grapple with overconsumption.
The Tshwane metro has appealed to residents of Atteridgeville and surrounding areas to use water sparingly in the midst of ongoing water shortages.
The appeal is nothing new as Atteridgeville and surrounding areas such as Saulsville, Kalafong Heights, and other areas in Pretoria West have been suffering water shortages since Friday, September 13.
The issues resulted in many taps in the Western region going dry or having little pressure throughout the weekend into this week.
Despite announcing on their X page on September 16 that the West’s water issues should be resolved, the metro says supplying reservoirs are still grappling with overconsumption.
Ongoing repairs to the reservoir determined that the outflow water supply overweighed the inflow, meaning residents are using much more water than the reservoir can provide.
In a statement, the metro urges residents to use water sparingly as the reservoir is struggling to return to an adequate capacity.
“The reservoir that supplies water in Atteridgeville and immediate areas remains empty, which is a result of high consumption by residents. The reservoir is struggling to build up as water that is pumped into the storage facility gets consumed at a much higher rate than what the system can supply. Basically, what goes into the reservoir immediately gets out. If residents don’t change their consumption patterns, the water outage will persist for a prolonged period,” the statement read.
The metro says the Pretoria West HL Reservoir has reached a satisfactory level of capacity. The metro’s technicians are inspecting the network to restore the water supply to the affected areas and despite the change of seasons, residents must assist in maintaining a consistent supply.
“With the spring season upon us, residents and the business community in the jurisdiction of the City of Tshwane are reminded to continue with their efforts to conserve water. This period is typically associated with increased water consumption, which puts a strain on the water supply system. Water conservation means using our limited water supply wisely and utilising every effort to conserve,” the statement read.
Residents are urged to make use of the following water-saving tips to help remedy the current situation;
– Do not water or irrigate gardens with hosepipes or sprinkler systems between 06:00 and 18:00.
– Do not wash vehicles with hosepipes.
– Do not fill swimming pools.
– Install a low-flow shower head and tap aerators where possible.
– Use a dual-flush toilet cistern.
– Plant indigenous or drought-resistant shrubs in the garden.
– Use a broom instead of a hosepipe when cleaning driveways or patios.
– Collect rainwater to reuse in the garden or wash the car.
– Cover the swimming pool to reduce water evaporation.
– Take a short shower rather than a bath.
– Close a running tap while brushing teeth or shaving.
– Regularly check toilets and taps for leaks.
– Refrain from filling storage tanks to allow the system to stabilise.
The metro apologises to the affected customers for the inconvenience caused.
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