According to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM), they are aware that businesses such as car washes are dependent on water.
“We would like to encourage businesses to try and conserve water or use high-pressure hoses,” said EMM spokesperson Themba Gadebe.
According to Gadebe, registered car washes will be held liable for their water usage.
In the case of car washes in informal settlements, water ambassadors will compile a database and educate car washes on efficient water usage.
“We urge them to take initiative to save water and recycle their water if possible,” he said.
The City Times approached two car washes: one in Rynfield, the other one in Daveyton.
“We are aware of water restrictions, but so far we haven’t been affected as yet,” said Chantelle Darlow, owner of Orange Car Wash Rynfield.
“We use high-pressure hoses, which saves water, because installing a recycling unit is too expensive.”
According to Darlow, they have reduced their trading hours: they open an hour later and close and hour earlier as a way of decreasing water usage.
Like Orange Car Wash Rynfield, the VIP Car Wash and Braai in Daveyton, owned by Ava Shabangu, also uses a high-pressure hose.
“I wasn’t aware of the water restrictions, although because we use a high-pressure hose, we are able to save water that way,” said Shabangu. According to the metro, car washes are exempt from rules pertaining to the use of hoses because they are expected to recycle 70 per cent of their water usage.
The EMM further stated that car washes are expected to reduce their average water usage, calculated over the preceding 12 months, by 30 per cent.
If they fail to do so, the business will be penalised according to the metro’s 2016/17 Tariff Schedule for water.
This tariff increase, depending on whether a water meter reading was taken for the relevant month, will be either 30 or 40 per cent (excluding VAT).
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