During a recent meeting with Clr Tiisetso Nketle, member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for water, sanitation and energy, it was explained to the Benoni City Times (a sister paper to the Springs Advertiser) that water supply to the metros feeding from the Vaal Dam have been rationed.
Read: Dams continue to dry up – water restrictions may get tighter
Nketle confirms that, as of October 20, the Vaal Dam was 27% full.
She says once the water level reaches 20%, by law, no more water may be distributed from the reservoir.
“At such low levels it is too muddy and it must be allowed to replenish,” she says.
“We are hoping not to reach that point, and as a precaution, Rand Water has given the metros feeding from the dam a limited portion per day.”
Ekurhuleni’s ration, which should come into effect on October 28, is 828 631kl per day, whereas the city currently uses about 974 860kl per day.
Sputnik Ratau, the spokesperson for the national department of water and sanitation, says the Vaal Dam will be fed from other reservoirs, primarily the Sterkfontein Dam, which is 90%, to prevent a drop to 20%.
“We will manage the Vaal Dam until it reaches 25%, after which water from other dams will be brought in,” Ratau says.
Read: ‘Zero tolerance’ and hefty fines for contravening water restrictions
He says Sterkfontein Dam should be sufficient to replenish the Vaal Dam until enough rain falls, early next year, but warns that it is still an extreme measure and should be avoided by reducing consumption.
To bring Ekurhuleni’s consumption down to fit within the ration, water loadshedding will be applied in the metro soon.
Nketle says that, in the week of October 25, she and mayor Mzwandile Masina, are due to sign off a plan to impose hydro-shedding.
At the time of going to print, the details of the plan had not yet been finalised.
The MMC says the water restrictions currently in place would not be amplified to achieve the necessary savings.
As of Monday, October 17, Ekurhuleni has reduced its water consumption by 3.7% since imposing the restrictions, well below the required 15%.
On August 12, the national department of water and sanitation gazetted that metros fed from the Integrated Vaal River System are required to reduce their water consumption by 15%.
Nketle confirms this and said it is the prerogative of each individual municipality, on how the 15% saving will be achieved.
According to her, the limits on water consumption will be reviewed in May next year, or earlier, depending on various factors, including rainfall and the amount of savings achieved.
“The scarcity of water may continue until 2024, when the Polihali Dam, which is the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, will be completed,” she says.
The project will supplement the sources of the Vaal Dam, which are currently not enough to keep the reservoir full.
“We plead with residents to save water and to report leaks and transgressors to us,” Nketle adds.
“We all need to co-operate to reach the requirement of a 15% reduction in consumption.”
According to Nketle, the city’s ward councillors are the custodians of the community and have to educate the public on exactly what the restrictions entail, as well as simple ways of saving water.
As many residents have complained about the damage to swimming pools and their gardens, due to the nature of the restrictions, the MMC was asked for a response to these concerns.
“Water is life, if you don’t drink it, you’ll lose your life, and its function in that respect can’t be substituted,” she says.
“A swimming pool is a luxury and gardens can be re-grown once the situation (drought) normalises.
“People have to understand this is real and serious, we are faced with a natural disaster situation.
“We must work together to save and we must pray for rain.”
