THE Metro’s dams have hit an all-time low, resulting in even tighter water restrictions announced by Executive Mayor Athol Trollip last Wednesday.
The new level 5 restrictions are due to the targets not being met as the combined capacity of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro’s main supply dams dropped below 20% last week. (Turn to page 3 for full details of the new restrictions)
The first water restrictions were imposed in September 2016 when dam levels were at 85%. In May 2017, punitive water restrictions were implemented.
“Nobody in this city who is a recipient of Assistance to the Poor, who receives or uses their daily allowances as a registered water buyer, has been punished for their normal daily use,” Trollip said at the media briefing.
He urged all residents to use 50 litres of water per person per day, in order to avoid further restrictions being implemented.
“No one is being punished for using normal, acceptable levels of water. It’s only those who use excessive amounts of water. There are, unfortunately, people in this city that either don’t care or don’t know how much water they use. There will be a consequence for that.”
According to Trollip, the Metro is facing an extremely critical time with the Kouga Dam currently at 7%. The limited extraction at Loerie Dam is causing the area of KwaNobuhle and Uitenhage at a real risk of running out of water in the near future.
A meeting was held with the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Gugile Nkwinti, last Monday, when it was indicated that the completion of phase 3 of the Nooitgedacht Water Scheme was a high priority.
“The Metro is in a unique situation and there are water augmentations in place from the Gariep Dam, which will be implemented by the Nooitgedacht Water Scheme,” Trollip said.
He added that there had been a decrease in the daily usage of 305 mega litres per day in September 2016, to 263 mega litres per day in May 2018. However, the target was 250 mega litres per day.
There are currently over 30 000 households in the Metro whose water usage are not being metered. “If water is not properly metered and measured, it cannot be properly managed,” Trollip said.
He appealed to every resident to become peace officers in monitoring water usage and leakages.
“If your neighbour is irrigating their lawn or washing their car, please advise us so that we can challenge that person.”
Trollip said he wanted everybody to take responsibility for adhering to restrictions.
“If we don’t implement these measures now, which are harsh, then the next stage is restrictions if the dam levels reach 15% (of combined capacity). Those restrictions are even more severe. If the dam levels, however, drop to 15%, tighter restrictions will be implemented from 50 litres to 40 litres per person per day.”
Trollip announced that there will be no Day Zero for the Metro if proper precautions were taken by every resident to prevent the dam levels from dropping even further.
