The eThekwini Municipality has confirmed it is implementing water rationing with immediate effect in some areas in the North, South and Inner West to build up storage.

Municipal spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela said the city has made significant progress to restore water supply in many areas with teams working round the clock on repairs.

Recent floods in the province have caused considerable damage to the Umgeni Water infrastructure, which in turn affects the water supply to several areas.

“To stabilise the system, the municipality is implementing water restrictions (rationing) with immediate effect in some areas to build up storage. This is to ensure that reservoirs have enough water supply and to prevent them from going empty.

“Other areas in the city are not being rationed as there is already constrained supply to them and applying the restriction may lead to the total collapse of the supply systems. The rationing schedule is based on the shortfall supply from the Durban Heights Water Treatment Plant and the South Coast Augmentation Pipeline (which is at its completion stages of repairs) and will depend on the level of the reservoir at the point of restriction,” Mayisela said.

He added that various reticulation supply pipeline repairs are in progress, but some areas require extensive upgrades, which could take some time.

“The city continues to dispatch tankers to supply water to residents in the interim. The municipality acknowledges and apologises for the frustration to communities caused by the water challenges. Despite this frustration, communities are urged to ensure unhindered access to water tankers for everyone,” he said.

For the list of areas that are subject to water rationing, click on this link: https://bit.ly/395TbtX