Kouga will be without potable water by the end of April, should residents not cut back on their daily water consumption.
“Water consumption remains too high across the region,” said Kouga Executive Mayor, Horatio Hendricks.
“All residents are urged to reduce their water use with immediate effect – before it is too late.”
According to Hendricks, residents of Kouga’s coastal towns currently use on average between 15Ml and 20Ml of water per day, of which an average of 11Ml per day are from the Churchill Dam – this is more than triple the ideal average water consumption of 4.5Ml per day.
Add to that the more than 6Ml of water per day that are supplied by Kouga’s boreholes and other surface water sources.
With an average daily consumption of 5Ml per day, residents from Aston Bay, C-Place, Pellsrus, and Ocean View are the biggest water users, followed by residents from Arcadia, Moerasrivier, Gill Marcus, Vaaldam and Kruisfontein, with an average consumption of 3Ml per day.
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%, as well as to erect rainwater tanks where 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 urged all construction workers to not use potable water when building. They should rather contact the municipality who will supply them with borehole water. “Saving water starts with all of us. Let us work together and reduce water consumption.”
Stricter water restrictions to be enforced
Kouga Municipality is set to enforce stricter water restrictions across the region – banning all use of municipal water for outside and non-essential use.
This means no car washing, watering of gardens, irrigation with municipal drinking water, and no filling of swimming or paddling pools.
The use of water obtained from the municipality’s supply system for washing of paved areas, walls, roofs, buildings, and similar structures is also prohibited.
Furthermore, the use or operation of hosepipes, sprinklers, sprinkler and drip systems, and automatic urinal flushing systems, is not allowed.
“Should residents be in contravention of these restrictions, a fine of R2 000 per offence will be issued,” said Hendricks.
“Residents need to reduce their household water consumption immediately to try to sustain the little water we have – only using a minimum amount of water for drinking, cooking, and washing.
“Although we continue to work non-stop to force consumption down, overall use remains catastrophically high.
“We must all do more to save water before it is too late.”
According to Hendricks, to date, over 40 exploratory boreholes have been sunk, of which 38 viable boreholes have been connected to the current water network.
“More boreholes will be connected in Humansdorp, Hankey and St Francis Bay soon,” he said.
“This project is ongoing, but with recent additional restrictions placed on underground water supply, we now must turn our attention towards the ocean for desalination and more reverse osmosis plants to purify existing borehole supplies. It has become that critical.
“This will come at a great cost, but I want to give residents the assurance that the provision of water will be a second-to-none priority.”
Hendricks emphasised that the best way to push back Day Zero, looming in April this year, is to reduce water consumption and become water-wise.
Stop flushing toilets when not necessary, shower for less than two minutes a day or use a wet cloth for a “wipe-down”, collect all would-be wasted water and use it to fill up toilet cisterns, among others.
“I urge all residents and businesses to only use water when necessary and to use as little as possible when you do. Please limit your usage to a maximum of 50l per person per day,” he said.
