Joburg residents urged to continue saving water despite lifting of restrictions

The City of Johannesburg has urged residents to still save water despite the lifting of water supply restrictions in the Gauteng municipalities by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

On Monday the department announced the lifting citing the recent rains that flowed into the Integrated Vaal River System, consisting of 14 dams which mainly serve Gauteng, as the reason for the decision.

“The Integrated Vaal River System has been increasing week on week and was at 95.9% as per the readings dated March 6. The Gauteng municipalities within the Rand Water area of supply, will be affected by the lifting of the restrictions,” a department statement said.

On Tuesday Joburg’s MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Cllr Nico de Jager, who warmly welcomed the department’s move to lift the restrictions within the Integrated Vaal River System, said the City would only partially lift its restrictions. He said South Africa remained a water scarce country and the City of Johannesburg remained a net importer of water.

The MMC said due to the risk of demand outstripping supply in the intervening period remained a real threat. He said a feasibility report showed that the full yield is expected to be utilised by approximately 2030.

De Jager said still all consumers were prohibited from using a hosepipe to clean paved areas and driveways with municipal water. He urged to keep on using grey water for watering gardens and flushing toilets; to report leaks and bursts and install water saving devices. “The success of our interventions depend on all of us working together to ensure that our taps do not dry up in future,” De Jager said.

The metro encouraged consumers to report non-compliance. The Joburg Water would continue to educate stakeholders about water conservation, to disseminate information and respond to feedback.  “We must change the manner in which all of us engage with water,” he said.

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