MALALANE – The Nkomazi Local Municipality instituted harsher water restrictions on September 15 due to the falling levels of the Crocodile River and dams which supply the area.
The Kwena Dam is at 26,7 per cent capacity, Driekoppies at 26,5 per cent and Maguga at 18,3 per cent, which shows just how dire the current water situation is.
Households have been instructed to stop watering gardens, flower beds, parks, lawns and other open spaces. The washing of hard surfaces or paved areas with drinking water is also not allowed. Vehicles should only be washed using water in buckets.
Borehole users were also requested to restrict their irrigation to before 09:00 and after 18:00, to maintain the water table.
Residents are urged to immediately report any leaks to the municipal call centre on 013-790-0990. The municipality warned that residents who continue to water their gardens would be taken to task.
A Hectorspruit resident recently contacted Corridor Gazette to report that a reservoir had been overflowing for some time and pleas to shut off the water in time apparently fell on deaf ears at the municipality. “They urge us to save water but then they let water run down the road. That’s not right,” he stated.
Residents should also report water wastage to the municipality on the hotline or contact their local councillor to take up the matter, should the municipality not respond.
Drinking water (which is any drinkable water you get from household taps) should be used sparingly, as substantial rain is only forecast for mid-October.
Farmers who draw their water from the Crocodile River are still being restricted to about 16 per cent of their allocation, which amounts to 20 hours per week.
This will continue until the Kwena Dam is closed for agricultural use and only used for primary water, which is expected to take place in the middle or end of October, unless the area receives rain.
The drought has already had a severe impact on the local sugar-cane industry, which reported a 35 per cent decline in crops this season.
Mr Dawie van Rooy, agricultural director of sugar at RCL Foods’ sugar and milling division, stated that the Komati mill will be closing in the next few weeks and the one in Malalane will be closed in the middle of November, due to the decrease in cane production.
Although a La Nina weather pattern resulting in heavy rains and floods was originally forecasted, weather experts have since noticed a shift and believe that the pattern has weakened and normal rainfall should be expected.
Water restrictions on both households and the agricultural sector will only be lifted once the rain season starts and the water levels have stabilised enough to supply all water users.
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