ETHEKWINI Municipality has set the record straight that it is not planning to implement a water-cuts schedule but rather a water curtailment system from today (October 10).

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This comes after the mayor, Cyril Xaba, announced that the metro is implementing this initiative to avoid a total collapse of the water supply system as more water is being consumed than could be supplied. Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the water curtailment is different from water-shedding where there is a schedule for water cuts at certain times.

“The purpose of the water curtailment is to avoid water-shedding by bringing down the total volume used in a controlled manner,” said Sisilana.

The curtailment will be implemented for 12 months, and the City has urged residents to use water sparingly to assist in reducing the high consumption.

Sisilana said to ensure that residents are not adversely affected, the municipality will be implementing interventions that include the installation of restrictors in water meters to all consumers; pressure reduction; metering all unmetered consumers; repairing leaks and burst pipes; community education around water conservation; disconnection of illegal water connections; and water rationing where demand is too high or exceeds available supply.

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