Warning: Water to be rationed
If the situation worsens the municipality could be forced to implement water shedding.
EXPECT tap water to be reduced to a trickle throughout the district as we drip closer to full-on restrictions and even ‘water shedding‘.
Ugu spokesman France Zama has confirmed that pressure will be reduced as an interim, remedial measure while the municipality works on long-term plans for the entire district.
The Department of Water Affairs has already hinted at the possibility of desalinisation plants on the North and South Coasts.
Up until now, water pressure reductions only affected Umuziwabantu and Umdoni municipalities, but now the drought – described as the worst in decades – has hit the Hibiscus Coast as well.
Residents are urged to use water sparingly, particularly when filling pools, watering gardens and washing vehicles.
Mr Zama explained that the municipality had conducted an assessment on its various water sources across the district and the outcome was a great concern.
“With no significant rainfall forecast, the drought is firmly rooted and the district faces a serious water crisis.
“As a quick remedial measure, the municipality is to implement water rationing for balanced supply in the highly affected communities under our local municipalities.
“Communities are, therefore, urged to conserve water or we face serious risks of sources running dry.
“We are currently looking at ways of tightening the water restriction by-laws to ensure that consumers use water sparingly,” he said.
Umuziwabantu and Vulamehlo local municipalities were already at distress levels.
The Harding Dam levels had dropped to 15 percent and surrounding areas only had intermittent water supply. Other sources within Umuziwabantu were also in a critical state, with KwaMbotho and KwaNyuswa water levels reduced to zero.
The Vulamehlo Municipality Weir was at 40 percent, significantly affecting the supply to that area, while the system in the Umzumbe River, which feeds the Ndelu and Assissi systems, was currently at its lowest flow. UMthwalume River was also low.
The Umzinto and EJ Smith dams were also running low, threatening the efficient supply of water in Umdoni and surrounding areas.
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