The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is calling on residents and visitors to adopt a water-saving
lifestyle as thousands of visitors are expected for the Easter Weekend.
From tomorrow, April 6 onwards, the metro expects to see an increase in the number of visitors,
with some booked in at different hospitality establishments while others will be hosted by
friends and relatives in their homes.
These numbers will be further increased by the visitors that will be coming for the iconic and
popular family orientated Splash Festival.
The three-day festival alone attracts more than 300 000 visitors with more than 40% of
those coming from other provinces.
Another increase in numbers coming into the metro will be through different churches that
will be hosting Easter church services.
Currently, the 1.2 million Nelson Mandela Bay population consumes 283 ML per
day, a consumption drastically exceeding the Department of Water and Sanitation’s prescribed 230 ML per day.
This situation leaves the metro with more than 50 million litres deficit of water, leading to
intermittent water supply.
This intermittent water supply has for the past four months worsened as dam levels continue
to decrease due to insufficient rainfall in the catchment areas.
The municipality is calling on hotels, B&Bs, lodges and home-stay establishment owners to
work together to make sure that their guests adopt a water-saving lifestyle during
their stay.
The municipality further calls on all families, friends and churches that will be hosting people
during the Easter weekend to encourage them to save as much water as possible.
Shopping malls are also encouraged to implement water-saving measures on their premises.
Any drop that is saved contributes to the little that we have so that we can all have water
during the Easter weekend.
Tips for hotels and hospitality establishments:
-Do not use baths.
-Install water-saving shower heads and only take two-minute showers.
-Reduce water pressure.
Tips for residents, tourists and visitors:
-All must adhere to less than 50 litres per person per day.
-Do not use hosepipes and municipal/tap water to wash cars, rather use recycled water and a
bucket.
-Take two-minute showers.
-Do not use baths for washing, rather take a two-minute shower or a washing basin.
-Only do laundry when it is a full load.
-Implement rain harvesting initiatives and use them for non-drinking purposes like laundry,
irrigation and washing cars.
-Don’t let the tap run when brushing your teeth.
Report water leaks immediately to 0800 205050 or send an email to waterleaks@mandelametro.gov.za.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Metro Police will be all out during the Easter weekend to
enforce compliance of these guidelines. Random inspections at shopping malls, car wash
businesses, residential homes and churches will be done.
ISSUED BY THE NELSON MANDELA BAY MUNICIPALITY
