Although the general water restrictions have been lifted in Gauteng, residents in Roodepoort and surrounding areas will still have to adhere to partial water restrictions.
According to the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Environment and Infrastructure Services, councillor Nico de Jager, the council has decided to only partially lift the Level 2 water restrictions that have been in place since last year. “The decision by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to lift water supply restrictions in Gauteng municipalities is welcomed. However, South Africa remains a water scarce country and the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) remains a net importer of water. According to a 2009 feasibility report, our water stores could be fully utilised by 2030,” Nico said.
In an effort to maintain a culture of water conservation, residents should take note of the following amendments to the water services by-laws, effective immediately:
– On an annual basis, between 6am and 6pm during the period 1 September to 31 March; and between 8am and 4pm from 1 April to 31 August, all consumers are prohibited from watering and irrigating their gardens
– All consumers are prohibited from using a hose-pipe connected to municipal water supplies to clean paved areas and driveways.
To ensure all residents adhere to these by-laws, strict by law enforcement will be done by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). “A total of 665 fines were issued by JMPD officers to consumers who contravened the Water Services By-law. Consumers are urged to report non-compliance to the JMPD’s hotline on 011 758 9650,” said Nico.
All water users are urged to change the manner in which they engage with water and to maintain vigilance in conserving this scarce resource. “Water saving must become part of our lifestyle. The water conservation measures implemented as a result of the restrictions must become the norm. Residents are urged to keep on using grey water for watering gardens and flushing toilets, to report leaks and bursts and install water-saving devices. The success of our interventions depend on all of us working together to ensure that our taps do not dry up in future,” Nico concluded.
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