Your Guide to Water Security

As Polokwane and other South African cities grapple with severe water shortages, residents are increasingly seeking alternatives to relying solely on municipal water supply.

The impact is being felt across households and businesses alike with residents expressing concern about limited access to water for everyday essentials like cooking, bathing, washing, and drinking. Local businesses have also raised concerns about the effect the water shortage is having on operations.

If you are thinking of sinking a residential borehole, contact your municipality to find out what bylaw restrictions exist in your area.

What to do if your taps run dry

Another option is to install water tanks. Households can use water tanks filled with rainwater, stored municipal water, or a combination of both to reduce their water bill and survive water cuts. A rainwater harvesting solution collects rainwater.

Be smart

Changing your taps, showerhead, and toilet flushing mechanisms to water-efficient devices is a smart move.
Dual flush toilets use around 3ℓ for a light flush and 6ℓ for a heavy flush, whereas old toilets use around 20ℓ a flush. If you can’t replace your old toilet system, put a brick in it to reduce water capacity. Modern showerheads use around 4ℓ a minute; old ones use around 9ℓ. Modern basin taps use 1.8ℓ a minute, compared with the 6ℓ of older taps – and old kitchen taps use a whopping 9ℓ a minute. When buying a washing machine, check how much water it uses.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to explore alternative water solutions to meet their needs. Whether it’s through borehole drilling, professional plumbing services, or water delivery options, local service providers are available to help keep households running and businesses open during this challenging period.