A succession of heatwaves and a worsening El Nino-driven drought have resulted in water restrictions being implemented in South Africa’s economic heartland.
Residents in the City of Tshwane‚ City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni have been issued with a notification by Rand Water stating that its supply pipeline servicing the areas is under severe strain due to increased water demand‚ the government news agency said on its website.
“The lack of rainfall in Gauteng is exacerbating the situation. The high water demand will cause localised problems in the City of Johannesburg‚ City of Tshwane and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality‚” Rand Water said in a statement.
The water restrictions‚ implemented with immediate effect‚ include a ban on watering gardens with hosepipes or a sprinkler system between 6am and 6pm‚ washing vehicles with hosepipes and filling swimming pools.
Rand Water warned that should the restrictions not be adhered to‚ the situation may worsen.
The water restrictions will be implemented until further notice.
In the Western Cape‚ if dam levels don’t rise soon‚ urban areas may be hit by water restrictions.
In KwaZulu-Natal‚ the drought is intensifying with the Harry Gwala district municipality becoming the latest to announce major water restrictions.
KZN MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube said in a statement today that as more rivers dry up‚ Ixopo dam is the latest to reach a critically low level of 30%.
Areas so far affected include Ixopo town‚ Morningside‚ Fairview and Hospital areas.
“Water production in the Ixopo dam will be reduced from 2.8Ml/d to 2.5Ml/d as of today. Harry Gwala district has been in discussions with farmers upstream who have three dams to release immediately‚ but even with that plan it is necessary to implement water restrictions until the situation returns to normality‚” said Dube-Ncube.
Last week‚ Paula Barnard‚ director of World Vision‚ said many parts of KwaZulu-Natal were “a disaster zone” as people did not have food‚ The Times reported. The NGO’s research showed that 500‚000 people did not know where their next meal would come from as crops had failed.
Water restrictions implemented in Gauteng
A succession of heatwaves and a worsening El Nino-driven drought have resulted in water restrictions being implemented in South Africa’s economic heartland.
Residents in the City of Tshwane‚ City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni have been issued with a notification by Rand Water stating that its supply pipeline servicing the areas is under severe strain due to increased water demand‚ the government news agency said on its website.
“The lack of rainfall in Gauteng is exacerbating the situation. The high water demand will cause localised problems in the City of Johannesburg‚ City of Tshwane and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality‚” Rand Water said in a statement.
The water restrictions‚ implemented with immediate effect‚ include a ban on watering gardens with hosepipes or a sprinkler system between 6am and 6pm‚ washing vehicles with hosepipes and filling swimming pools.
Rand Water warned that should the restrictions not be adhered to‚ the situation may worsen.
The water restrictions will be implemented until further notice.
In the Western Cape‚ if dam levels don’t rise soon‚ urban areas may be hit by water restrictions.
In KwaZulu-Natal‚ the drought is intensifying with the Harry Gwala district municipality becoming the latest to announce major water restrictions.
KZN MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube said in a statement today that as more rivers dry up‚ Ixopo dam is the latest to reach a critically low level of 30%.
Areas so far affected include Ixopo town‚ Morningside‚ Fairview and Hospital areas.
“Water production in the Ixopo dam will be reduced from 2.8Ml/d to 2.5Ml/d as of today. Harry Gwala district has been in discussions with farmers upstream who have three dams to release immediately‚ but even with that plan it is necessary to implement water restrictions until the situation returns to normality‚” said Dube-Ncube.
Last week‚ Paula Barnard‚ director of World Vision‚ said many parts of KwaZulu-Natal were “a disaster zone” as people did not have food‚ The Times reported. The NGO’s research showed that 500‚000 people did not know where their next meal would come from as crops had failed.
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