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Water use appeal as dam levels drop

The appeal from the local water utility comes after Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Minister Sisulu, this week warned the nation to conserve water or live with the consequences

MHLATHUZE Water has called upon communities and industries in northern KZN to use water sparingly as levels of dams in the region continue to drop.

The appeal from the local water utility comes after Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Minister Sisulu, this week warned the nation to conserve water or live with the consequences.

Mhlathuze Water (MW), which supplies bulk water to the King Cetshwayo, Zululand and the uMkhanyakude Districts, as well as industries, said owing to dwindling levels at its dams and miserly rainfall patterns, there was a need to closely monitor water consumption.

‘The Goedertrouw Dam, which is Mhlathuze Water’s main water source for the greater Richards Bay area, is currently sitting at below 40.83%, and has not fully recovered from the drought which ravaged the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal five years ago,’ said MW Corporate Communications Manager, Siyabonga Maphumulo.

‘The Pongolapoort Dam in Jozini is at 58.74%.

‘Compared to the same period last year, our dams are markedly lower.

‘Despite intermittent rains, we do not have a water surplus; we need to prudently manage our water supplies.

‘While the water situation cannot be described as dire in our catchment area owing to multiple water sources, we need to remain mindful that northern KwaZulu-Natal remains extremely water scarce,’ said Maphumulo.

‘Communities and industries must closely monitor their water usage in order to avert restrictions in future.

‘Our message to communities in our areas of operation is that they must conserve water and get back to the basics of not washing their vehicles with hosepipes, watering their plants with drinkable water and ensuring that they attend to leaks.

‘In our efforts to ensure water security in northern KwaZulu-Natal, Mhlathuze Water has embarked on major infrastructure upgrades, including commissioning a 40 mega-litre per day water treatment plant to service the uMkhanyakude District with potable water.

‘Additionally, and as an interim measure, the water utility is also installing boreholes in those areas of uMkhanyakude worst affected by the water scarcity.’

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