Pretoria East water usage strains system

The water levels in the Tshwane metro reservoirs and towers are dropping extraordinarily quickly, and most in the east have been identified as being under strain due to high consumption.

The metro has warned residents within the east of Pretoria to remain on the alert, as if consumption is not reduced, it could result in restrictions.

The city is continuing to experience excessively high water usage, which is likely to put consumers at risk of having no water during the upcoming scorching summer months.

Mooikloof Ridge Pumping Station, Carina Street Reservoir, Mooikloof Reservoir and Constantia Reservoir are some of those identified having high water consumption.

Metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said demand in most of the areas is exceeding what the city can provide, forcing the city over what it is permitted to draw from Rand Water.

“The water utility is currently pumping about 800 million litres per day to Tshwane, when it’s supposed to be pumping 662 million litres per day,” said Bokaba.

He explained that this is about 18% more than the city’s licence agreement with the water utility.

He added that this high volume of consumption is continuously putting the city’s distribution network and Rand Water systems under severe pressure.

“This strain calls for communities across the city’s seven regions to use water sparingly, attend to their households’ leaks and report leaks that require the city’s attention.”

Bokaba urged residents to be vigilant against vandalism of city water infrastructure.

The city has identified the 10 highest consuming reservoirs and one pump station.

“It has come to our attention that consumers who are supplied by these reservoirs and the specific pump station are the main contributors to the overall high water usage within Tshwane,” Bokaba said.

He said Mooikloof Ridge Pumping Station, which is directly supplied by the Rand Water system, is currently experiencing extremely high demand, which has left the high lying areas with low pressure.

The pump station supplies the following areas:

• Mooikloof

• Mooikloof Ridge (all extensions)

• Country View Estate Extension 0 and 1

• Prairie Giants Extension 3

Bokaba said the city reiterates its plea to all customers to instantly reduce water consumption.

“Residents are further reminded that the water restrictions imposed previously in line with the Water Supply By-Laws were never withdrawn and are therefore still applicable.”

Residents are reminded of the following specific water restrictions:

– No watering or irrigation of gardens with a hosepipe or sprinkler system between 06:00 and 18:00.

– No using of a hosepipe to clean driveways or patios.

– No washing of vehicles with a hosepipe.

– No filling or top up of swimming pools or water features.

He said the metro urges all residents to make a concerted effort in decreasing the water usage by adhering to the water restrictions. Punitive measures will be imposed against transgressors.

Some of the identified highest consumption reservoirs across the metro:

– Mabopane Reservoir

– Atteridgeville HL Reservoir

– Mabopane Main reservoir

– Soshanguve L Reservoir

– Akasia Reservoir

– Lotus Reservoir

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