RESIDENTS of eThekwini Municipality will have to monitor their water usage as restrictions commenced on Sunday, 21 June, as KZN struggles with prolonged drought, the worst since 1992.
Other municipalities affected by the restrictions are Ilembe (Stanger, Ballito, Ndwedwe), uThungulu (Richards Bay, uMfolozi) and Mtubatuba.
“This epic drought experienced by the province at present demands unprecedented action,” said KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
Some municipalities will commence with radical water rationing programmes as part of managing the available water resources. Water rationing means that production will be reduced and as a result, less water will be supplied to municipalities. This will have a knock-on effect on consumers who will be given a set of amount of water per day. Once the water quantum allocated to households is consumed, there will be no water available until the following day when a new amount is allocated.
“We face a harrowing future if we do not take extraordinary measures to conserve the remaining water. In some areas we are left with only two months of water supply and we are at the beginning of the dry winter season for most parts of our province,” said Dube-Ncube.
“We require major changes in policy and consumer behaviour to manage the current water crisis in our province. Today, not tomorrow, is the time to begin to change the way we treat water by conserving every drop. The public must take ownership of this issue. This crisis belongs to all of us — not just to a handful of decision-makers. Water is our most important, commonly shared resource, but the public remains detached from discussions and decisions about water management and use. We have a problem with rain and dams are getting empty.”
Water rationing timetables will be issued on a weekly basis and consumers and municipalities are urged to take note of water allocations available and use water sparingly.
At the time of going to press, no timetable was available for local residents.
