Why Tshwane needs to urgently save water
Residents and businesses in Tshwane have to start taking water restrictions seriously, urged mayor Solly Msimanga.
He warned the capital city's taps could run dry by the end of the year if this does not happen.
Msimanga announced new water restrictions in Pretoria after Rand Water cut its supply by 15% due to the ongoing drought.
Residents will from now on not be allowed to: water their gardens between 06:00 and 18:00; wash their vehicles with hosepipes (buckets preferred) and; fill their swimming pools. Meanwhile golf courses will not be allowed to use municipal water for irrigation and the city will no longer water municipal parks or road islands.
If these restrictions are not adhered to, residents or businesses could face a fine of up to R20 000 or be answerable to a court.
According to Msimanga water restrictions announced in September were not strictly adhered to. As a result the city has decided to intensify its campaign to ensure the required 15% is saved.
While the city's reservoirs are currently still above 40%, Msimanga said levels could drop overnight. Due to this, and the uncertainty of when significant rain might come, the city launched a new campaign called Thiba Komelelo - meaning 'stop the drought'.
The campaign is aimed at raising public awareness and limiting water supply to a number of areas. But Msimanga added the possibility of 'water-shedding' that could be introduced depending on how strictly the new measures are adhered to.
Apart from urging residents to use water sparingly, Msimanga gave the assurance that the city will also play its part.
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After Johannesburg, Tshwane is the city that loses the most of its water to leakages - currently at around 30%. Msimanga said the city is prone to leakages due to its ageing infrastructure. But teams from both Tshwane and Rand Water have been put on standby to respond to any reports regarding leakages.
Tshwane Metro Police will also respond to any calls, even if these are anonymous - with complaints of restrictions not being adhered to.
The mayor assured Tshwane's taps will not run dry if all its residents comply. Msimanga said while he hopes to give the people of Tshwane good news in the near future, he warned the situation could become critical if residents do not save enough water.
"We can do without electricity, we can do without a number of things, but water is not one of those," said Msimanga.