More water restrictions hit Joburg

The City of Joburg will on Monday announce serious water restrictions for residents and businesses.

Johannesburg - The City of Joburg will on Monday announce serious water restrictions for residents and businesses.

This follows the decision by the National Department of Water Affairs to limit the use of water in terms of the National Water Act of 1998 by 15% in urban areas and 20% in rural areas for irrigation purposes in the catchment areas of the dams which supply the Vaal River system.

The decision was published in the Government Gazette that was published on August 12.

Joburg Water said its operations team has been testing various methods of implementing the 15% restrictions with as little inconvenience to the consumer as possible.

The city’s member of the mayoral committee responsible for environment and infrastructure services, Anthony Still, will later be releasing a plan which outlines exactly how these additional restrictions will be implemented, based on the outcome of the utility’s testing.

Level-two water restrictions have been in place since May.

These, according to section 44 (3) of the Water Services bylaws, state that all consumers are compelled not to water and irrigate their gardens between 8am and 4pm every day; not to fill their swimming pools with municipal water; and not to use hosepipes to wash their cars.

Water saving tips:

*Don’t leave taps dripping;

*Take shallow baths; and

*Use bathwater or grey-water to water the garden.

anna.cox@inl.co.za

@annacox

The Star