POLOKWANE -Residents in the high-lying areas of the city, which include include Bendor, Flora Park, Serala View, Fauna Park and some sections of Ster Park, are entering the second week without water.
Municipal spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, acknowledged that it is difficult at present to give a clear indication of when the situation will return to normal, in light of the current heatwave and anticipated drought.
“Water is pumped continuously to levels acceptable to the capacity of the supplying water plants. Our biggest challenge is that the demand far exceeds the current supply,” Chuene explained.
Polokwane water shortage: measures put in place to provide relief
Empty taps due to poor management from the municipality
According to a source the real reason for the water shortage in the city is due to the municipality’s poor management of the water situation. According to this source, the municipality does not control the water usage of different parts of the city efficiently enough to ensure that the reservoirs have enough water to supply to all the areas.
The source also revealed that the city’s infrastructure is not compatible to the growth of the city and therefore it cannot keep up with the higher demand of service delivery.
Chuene denied these allegations and said water supply is managed effectively with readings for reservoir levels versus usage taken daily. “It has been mentioned on numerous occasions that Polokwane is a water-scarce area and that irrespective of how much water is pumped into the reservoirs, we will continue to experience shortages as a result of careless use, unreported leaks, pipe ursts, illegal connections and low rainfall.
“Conservation of water is now a collective responsibility,” Chuene added.
At the same time the municipality issued stern warnings to residents who water their gardens or wash their cars at home and urged city dwellers to use water sparingly and only for household purposes.
“The municipality will also enforce current water restrictions by issuing on the spot fines,” Chuene said. Water shortages, leaks and other forms of service disruptions can be reported at (015) 209 2376/2001/200.
During a media tour of the Olifantspoort Plant in March, the CEO of Lepelle Northern Water, Phineas Legodi, confirmed the city’s reservoirs and infrastructure have not stay abreast with the rapid growth of the city. Read more
