AbaQulusi Municipality responds to the water crisis
"The Department of Water Affairs has confirmed that the current situation is so life-threatening that, should it not rain in the next four weeks, Vryheid will have no water."
ABAQULUSI Local Municipality recently responded to questions from the Vryheid Herald regarding the impending water crisis.
In a press release, dated July 23, which we received on July 28, the municipality provided the following information regarding the looming water disaster:
“Although water restrictions have been imposed by the Municipality, the levels of the dams continue to drop tremendously. Currently the dam levels are as follows: Klipfontein is at 45% and Bloemveld is at 38%. Rain received on Wednesday was reported to be 4mm which is next to nothing compared to the situation at hand.”
“The Department of Water Affairs has confirmed that the current situation is so life-threatening that, should it not rain in the next four weeks, Vryheid will have no water.”
“The situation cannot be facilitated only by the Municipality. The whole of Abaqulusi’s residents are urged to commit themselves to conserving water and identifying water sources and springs.”
“AbaQulusi residents can play a major role in conserving water by doing the following:
- Re-use of water in households is encouraged, e.g bath water can be kept in buckets for toilet use or any other;
- washing machine water can also be used for gardening or any other domestic activities;
- residents should shower, rather than bath;
- residents are requested to report any leaks to the municipality as soon as they are identified on this number: 0800 20 1102;
- the use of hose pipes is prohibited;
- those who know of any wetlands with the possibility of boreholes are urged to report these wetlands to their Ward Councillors.”
The municipality claims to have put the following measures in place to conserve water:
- “Restrictor valves in indigent households have been installed as these households normally exceed the allowable 6kl per month;
- outlet pipes at treatment plants have been reduced by 50%;
- water restrictions have been imposed on all residents and business users;
- water restriction warnings are also available on the consumer bills as a reminder;
- there are consulting engineers employed to identify boreholes in different areas;
- the old schemes are being refurbished and
- protection of springs.”
“While we certainly appreciate the recent rains,” concluded the municipality’s media release, “the municipality urges the residents to use water sparingly as the situation is still dire.”
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‘We must prevent a national water crisis’ – Mmusi Maimane
