RESIDENTS should prepare themselves for strict water restrictions following an emergency meeting between the SA Local Government Association (SALGA) and Rand Water earlier this week.
The meeting took place after government announced in the Government Gazette on Friday that residential water usage in Gauteng must be cut by 15 per cent.
The drastic water cuts are necessary as the Vaal Dam is only 34 per cent full in comparison to 66.1 per cent a year ago.
As Ekurhuleni’s new council is not in place yet, it is unclear how restrictions here will be implemented, as such a decision must be approved by council.
One option to reduce water usage would be to introduce punitive measures. This means residents will pay a higher water tariff once they exceed a certain limit set.
In Johannesburg, for instance, residents using more than 20kl will pay 10 per cent more. Between 30 and 40kl water will be 20 per cent more expensive and after that 30 per cent.
An average household uses about 30kl of water a month.
