Govt: No water crisis in Gauteng (just yet)
The Department of Water and Sanitation has allayed fears of a water crisis in Gauteng but has warned residents to use water sparingly.
On Monday, the department announced that the Vaal Dam levels have dipped below 50% amid the high temperatures and the dry start to the season.
No water is pumped from the Lesotho Highlands Scheme due to ongoing maintenance work that is only due to be completed at the end of November.
The department's spokesperson Sputnik Ratau says Gauteng has been experiencing high temperatures and situation is compounded by the lack of rainfall.
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Ratau says although the 1% drop week on week does raise red flags, there is still enough water supply for the province.
"The system is able to give us sufficient water. As South Africans, we have to worry about water availability because we are a water-scarce country.
"Even at the time where we'd receive the best kinds of rainfall we still be receiving lower than world average rainfall therefore there issue of water conservation must be critical for all of us.
"It must not be a reactive process only when we seem to be heading towards crisis."