Water restrictions a real possibility
Water must be used sparingly because the levels of dams in the region are dropping at an alarming rate.
LYDENBURG – Water must be used sparingly because the levels of dams in the region are dropping at an alarming rate.
Lydenburg residents have yet to feel the impact of water restrictions, but these could be implemented, should the levels reach a critical point. The Dorps River has dried up.
According to the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Ohrigstad Dam is at four per cent. The Kwena Dam in the Badfontein region is at 34,8 per cent.
Mr Jan Neethling, who lives near the Dorps River, said he had never seen the Dorps River empty.
“I usually walk over the big rocks in the winter to get to my cattle to prevent my feet from getting wet. Now you can walk right through.”
Mr Gideon Cross, a farmer in the Badfontein region, said he grew up in the area and that rivers, farm dams and boreholes had started drying up.
“It compares to the huge drought we had in the 1980s. Farmers feed their livestock grass, because lucerne is scarce. Many of the bigger farmers in the region could not harvest crops like wheat in the winter on account of the river and dam levels not allowing it,” said Cross.
Lydenburg Dam, which supplies Lydenburg and Mashishing, is at 65 per cent capacity.
Communications manager for Thaba Chweu Municipality (TCM), Mr Puleng Mapheto, said the municipality was concerned about the rate at which levels were dropping.
TCM appointed service providers to access the situation.
“This is to ensure that we know what is required from us as a municipality. This will also allow TCM to act appropriately based on assessment,” said Mapheto.
“We request residents to use water sparingly by not washing cars with hosepipes. Rather use buckets and only water plants early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
“The water crisis is not the municipality’s problem alone. The community needs to play a vital role in this regard. TCM residents are responsible community members and we hope our message will come across crystal clear.
“The municipality will consider water restrictions only if we don’t get enough rain during the next few weeks. It will then be communicated to all residents before implementation,” he concluded.
