We’re doing our bit – are you?

THE WATER SITUATION is becoming dire. In its latest figures (September 14) the Department of Water Affairs gives Klipfontein Dam’s level as 38.6% full, down from 39.7% the previous week. At the same time last year the dam was 73.4% full.

Last week in the Vryheid Herald, Cllr Harry Heyns warned that unless the situation improved, it might compel the municipality to turn off the water from 8:00am to 6:00pm.

This would be a huge inconvenience to residents and businesses, particularly residents on the upper floors of blocks of flats, and those living in the higher parts of town. Lower parts of Vryheid might not be affected at all, as the remaining water in the system would flow down to those areas.

But if the water was turned on again at 6:00pm, it could quite easily be 11:00pm before some residents had the first splutters of water returning to their taps.

Months ago, when water restrictions were imposed, residents were asked to report water leaks, the immediate repair of which would help save water waste. In one case such a report seems to have been a complete waste of time.

A resident in the vicinity of the intersection of Emmett and Boeren streets says that she reported a leak in the road more than two months ago. It appears that the water is welling up from a valve in the road, it trickles down to the gutter and then west along Boeren Street, creating permanent puddles in any depression.

The resident says that when she reported the leak she got a reference number (94693) which she quoted when she later made a follow-up phone call.

Nothing has happened.

The leak leaks – all day and night, and has done for months now.

The question is – does the municipality take the restrictions as seriously as some of the residents?

And it is only SOME of the residents.

The hundreds of new low-cost houses that now constitute the area commonly known as Sasko Area, do not even have water meters. It would appear that the residents there have no compulsion to save water. Reports are that on any day one can see cars being washed and gardens watered.

And as temperatures rise with the changing seasons, so the rate of evaporation of water from our dams will increase. Added to the town’s consumption, however restricted by conscientious residents, the situation could get worse. A lot worse.