Kouga will be without water within the next month or two should no significant rain
fall in the catchment area very soon.
The
combined level of the dams (Impofu Dam and Churchill Dam) that supply water to
the region – Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, St Francis Bay and Cape St Francis – totaled
just more than 14% as per the latest information from Nelson Mandela Bay
Municipality.
“Residents
currently use more than 10Ml water per day on average, which is the highest
consumption rate in the region – this is more than double the ideal average
water consumption per day,” said Kouga Executive Mayor, Horatio Hendricks. “The
current water consumption per day should be no more than 4.5Ml.”
According
to Hendricks, there are only two ways to cut back Day Zero – to bring down water
consumption and to find additional water resources.
“It
is therefore imperative that all residents and businesses in the area reduce
their above average daily water consumption by at least 50% with immediate
effect, as well as to erect rainwater tanks were possible,” he said.
“If
the water usage is not reduced significantly, the municipality will be forced
to implement strict water rationing. This means that water will only be
available from the taps for a few hours per day and will be shut off for the
remainder of the day.”
Hendricks
urges all construction workers to not use potable water when building. They
should rather contact the municipality who will supply them with borehole
water.
As
part of the municipality’s efforts to manage water usage, municipal taps are
turned off at public open spaces, all municipal buildings will be equipped with
rainwater harvesting tanks, and stringent measures have been put in place to
ensure that the restricted allocation of water – 50l per person per day – is adhered
to. The municipality is also working with law enforcement to enforce
compliance.
“We
remind residents that the current water restrictions prohibit the connection of
a hose pipe or an irrigation system to taps supplying water from the municipal
system,” said Hendricks.
“Pools
may not be filled or topped up, and the washing of paved areas, roofs and walls
with municipal water are also not allowed.
“Saving
water starts with all of us. Let us work together and reduce water consumption.
Every drop counts.”
For more information, visit the Kouga Municipality website or their Facebook page.
