Water restrictions to be taken seriously
Barbertonians are asked to adhere to the rules by not washing vehicles with garden hoses and not to water their gardens with sprinklers or irrigation systems.
South Africa is one of the 30 driest countries in the world and water restrictions were introduced in Barberton at the beginning of July. The country as a whole is at present in the grips of one of the worst droughts in recent years.
“The country is already experiencing water shortages as a result of the drought. River levels are low and the dam levels are at their lowest. This is due to low rainfall as a result of climate change. Ground-water levels are also dropping drastically leading to boreholes drying up,” said Themba Khoza of the Department of Water and Sanitation (Mpumalanga Provincial Operations Mbombela).
According to Andy Nuns, chairman of the Barberton/Umjindi Ratepayers Association, despite these restrictions residents have been seen using sprinklers for lengthy periods to water their gardens and the sidewalks.
“Please comply with the restrictions, as our dam water level is heading rapidly towards 30 per cent. Because of the build-up of silt over the years and the manganese colouring already in our water, it’s possible that the usable water level is only 15 to 20 per cent and this level is dropping fast,” said Nuns.
Barbertonians, just like people elsewhere in the country, need to change their attitude towards water usage by applying stricter water-saving measures.
Community members also need to be observant of any leaks on their own premises and have it fixed as soon as possible. Pipe leaks must immediately be reported to the municipality on
013-712-2222.
“Let us all use it sparingly and efficiently and always think of water conservation in all our daily activities. If there is a need, we must use a bucket to wash our cars and we must avoid watering our gardens unnecessarily. We also need to install low-flow showerheads and take a shower instead of a bath, as this saves a lot of water,” said Khoza.
Barbertonians are asked to adhere to the rules by not washing vehicles with garden hoses and not to water their gardens with sprinklers or irrigation systems.
“Let us all join hands and conserve the little water that is available, especially now during this drought period. Water conservation is everybody’s business.” said Khoza.
Umjindi Municipality acting director of civil services, Jaco Landsberg, said the purification works at Suid-Kaap is functioning and all reservoirs in town have reached 100 per cent full capacity on Monday. This is also thanks to those community members who are using water sparingly. It is the first time in years that the reservoirs have reached full capacity.
“Consumers who abuse water usage will definitely feel it on receipt of their July consumers’ accounts. To avoid nasty surprises on your account, keep an eye on your water meters,” said Landsberg.
