Water restrictions imminent
"We have no other choice but to implement water restrictions. The time frames for these restrictions will be provided next week."
LYDENBURG – The Lydenburg Dam, which supplies the town’s water, is currently only 50 per cent full and its level is dropping at an alarming rate – so much so that water restrictions will be implemented from early next week.
The acting municipal manager of Thaba Chweu Municipality (TCM), Mr Lesley Mokwena, told the newspaper that a meeting had been held on Tuesday to discuss the disturbing situation at the dam.
“We will definitely be implementing water restrictions as we are now at a crucial point. The dam’s water level is dropping alarmingly and we urge residents to use water sparingly. We have no other choice but to implement water restrictions. The time frames for these restrictions will be provided next week.”
He said that residents must report any leaks as soon as possible. “Swimming pool water usage should be restricted and those that are empty should not be filled until we have had sufficient rain. Residents should also restrict the irrigation of their lawns and only take care of sensitive plants. The situation is very critical at this stage and we will deploy traffic officials to do rounds to stop unnecessary irrigation.”
He also stated that car-wash businesses should rather make use of buckets instead of hosepipes. “In the rural areas we have already made contact with the Ehlanzeni District Municipality to assist us with water tankers. Various boreholes in Matibidi and Leroro have also run dry due to the low water table.”
Mokwena said that he had given instructions to ward councillors of farms in the district to determine the extent of the drought.
“On Thursday a premier coordinating forum will sit at Ingwenyama Lodge in White River. First on the agenda will be the drought we are currently facing. The national department will also be briefed on the situation this week. We hope that Mpumalanga will be declared a drought area so we can then help farmers with the necessary feed for livestock.”
He said that TCM was, however, ready for any eventuality.
Mr Gerrie van der Merwe of Lunsklip Fisheries in the Badfontein district said that farmers were definitely being affected by this year’s drought. “It is very dry. We had some rain in September but no rain last month. Usually we get about 200mm in November and the same in December, but not this year. There hasn’t been a lot of dry-land planting. The Kwena Dam’s water level is also running low.”
Van der Merwe said that the effect of the drought would only be visible next year. “There is also a shortage of pasture and in some cases none at all. I expect the maize price to rise with about 30 per cent. The last time it was this dry was in 1991.”
Mr Hans Meyer, a town historian, also told the newspaper that water restrictions were put in place in 1980 when a severe drought also hit the town. “We were only able to use water at certain times of the day and also just for short periods. We were also not allowed to use a hosepipe. I have actually anticipated these restrictions. In the past couple of years the rainfall has seen a definite decline.”
TCM also warns residents to be aware of the increased risk of fires due to the drought. Any outbreaks must be reported to the Emergency and Disaster Management centre on 013-235-7389 immediately.
