Water levels are critically low due to heat wave

The Tlokwe Municipality urges the community not to use water for any unnecessary purposes.
According to Mr William Maphosa, spokesperson for the municipality, people should take extra care when using water since the local reservoirs are currently under stress.
“The municipality appeals to all residents, for now, to use water for consumption and washing purposes only,” he says.
Maphosa explains that the lack of water in the reservoirs has been caused by the heat wave that lasted the whole of last week.
According to him, the heat wave has threatened all of the city’s local water reservoirs, including Vyfhoek, Ventersdorp, Ikageng and Eersterandjies, that are all hovering between 35% and 76% capacity.
“The municipality is doing its best to keep up and continues to pump in to ensure that the pressure remains adequate,” he says.
Since Potchefstroom has no water restrictions in place, it poses a huge threat to farmers in and around Potchefstroom. Mr Jannie Keet, chairman of Agri Potchefstroom, says water restrictions are necessary because water that is supposed to be used for farming is now being used by residents in the city.
Many farmers in and around Potchefstroom have no water left for irrigation and are losing a large percentage of crops due to this.
According to Maphosa, the municipality is closely monitoring the water situation and will keep residents informed. But, for now, residents need to work together to save water.