Local businesses take the knock as water crisis deepens
Everyday running of a restaurant requires a reliable and consistent supply of water for many reasons. Washing dishes, maintaining a steady supply of ice, flushing of toilets, washing hands, etc.
“I understand there’s a drought. If there’s no rain, there’s no rain. But that’s not the main problem here…”
These were the words of local restaurant and pub owner, Andrew Marchington, regarding the current water crisis which has put immense strain on several businesses in Vryheid, with the supply being cut off since Monday.
Marchington went on to blame mismanagement by the municipality for playing a major part in the present predicament we now face.
“Costs increase substantially when you have to buy water. That’s if you can get it,” he continued. “To add insult to injury, the current lack of water will most likely not even reflect on the bill at the end of the month, essentially leaving us to pay for a service that we are not even getting.”
Restaurants are required by law to maintain a certain standard of hygiene and Dee’s Restaurant and Bar is certainly no exception. Everyday running of a restaurant requires a reliable and consistent supply of water for many reasons. Washing dishes, maintaining a steady supply of ice, flushing of toilets, washing hands, etc.
“You have to keep to a certain standard for your clients,” Marchington added.
Michael Phytides, owner of Ella Mera, another popular pub in Vryheid, who also rents out water coolers with a monthly supply of purified water, has also felt the knock of the water crisis.
“Maintaining a steady supply of ice for the bar has been difficult, but we have managed to keep up,” says Phytides, adding that it has also been difficult to keep up with the demand for the water supply for the coolers, but he has gotten back to a point where he can now supply to his existing clients again.
Emmie Kotze, from Zig Zag Hair Studio, commented that, although the water situation could have a serious impact on their business, which relies on a steady supply of water, she and her husband, Ryno, have made provision for the current circumstances by filling a JoJo tank to supply them with their daily water needs at the salon.
“The community needs to be more responsible with water,” she adds. “When the water comes back on, we need to use it sparingly and do our best to save the little water we have left.”
