#WestRandWaterWatch: Save water before supply drops

With Rand Water’s planned maintenance set to begin next week, ward councillor Lourens Gouws has urged residents to start saving and storing water in anticipation of disruptions.

• Also read: Mogale warns water maintenance just days away

Gouws warned that the municipality does not have enough water trucks to supply the entire town at once. A rotation schedule has, however, been drawn up to share trucks between affected wards.

“The water system works on a rotation schedule, so residents must understand that most reservoirs need to reach a minimum of 30% before pumping can resume,” Gouws explained.

He added that areas that run dry first will be prioritised for truck delivery, and the municipality will release a list indicating where trucks will be sent first, should this occur.

The water supplied by trucks comes from Rand Water and, as far as we know, it is clean and safe. However, residents are still advised to boil or purify the water for peace of mind.”

He urged residents to begin storing water, particularly grey water, for essential uses such as flushing toilets.

The Krugersdorp News compiled some water-wise tips to follow before and during this period:

Store water beforehand
• Clean containers: Use buckets, basins, bottles, and even bathtubs to store water in advance
• Label your water: Separate drinking water from grey water (used for flushing, cleaning, etc.)
• Seal stored water tightly and keep it in a cool, shaded place to prevent contamination

Use water sparingly
• Take short showers or skip a day where possible
• Turn off the tap when brushing teeth, shaving, or soaping hands
• Use a cup for rinsing your mouth instead of running the tap

Toilets and flushing
• We all know the saying, “if it’s yellow, let it mellow …” Flush only when necessary
• Use grey water from bathing or washing dishes for toilet flushing

Cleaning and laundry
• Spot-clean clothes and delay laundry as far as possible
• Use hand sanitiser or wet wipes when water isn’t available for handwashing
• Reuse mop and dish water for cleaning outdoor areas or floors

Kitchen efficiency
• Cook with minimal water and reuse cooking water (eg, from steaming veggies) for rinsing or watering plants
• Use disposable plates/ cups during the peak of the outage to reduce dishwashing

Gardens
• Pause garden watering
• Use water collected from aircon drips or rinsing vegetables for potted plants

Extra tips
• Boil or purify any questionable water for drinking
• Keep hand sanitiser and disinfectant handy to maintain hygiene
• Stay informed on municipal updates and water truck schedules

“This will be a challenging period. We ask the community to use water sparingly, reduce bathing and shower times, and limit usage for non-essential tasks like washing dishes,” Gouws said.

He also appealed to local traders to avoid increasing bottled water prices during this time.

We’re asking for cooperation and compassion. Let’s not prolong the impact of this situation through opportunistic pricing.”