The City of Johannesburg has announced level 2 water restrictions as levels drop in Rand Water’s reservoirs.
“Residents will experience low pressure to no water in various areas due to high water demand in Joburg‚” the city said via its twitter account. “The high demand is caused by the heat.”
Residents in the south of the city were bearing the brunt today.
The city said: “Due to Rand Water’s reservoir running empty‚ areas in the Johannesburg south are experiencing a water supply problem. Rand Water is working on this problem. Reservoirs are picking up very slowly‚ this will take time to recover.
“It is against this back drop that the City has to invoke section 44(3) of the water restriction by-law. We urge residents to use water sparingly. Where possible re-use water.”
Consumers and businesses are urged not to water their gardens between 6am and 6pm and to avoid filling swimming pools‚” the city said‚ adding that people should also not wash their cars using hosepipes.
While level one restrictions are an appeal to residents to use water responsibly‚ the city warned that the current water supply interruptions could become more severe.
“#Savewater activities can help avoid implementation of level three restrictions — which will see water supply only at certain periods‚” the city stated.
The news comes as Gauteng is bracing for another heat wave.
Farmers across the country are currently meeting with banks in order to discuss how they can survive the current drought AgriSA’s Johan Pienaar confirmed earlier.
Emerging farmers are particularly threatened as fodder is scarce and the maize crop is well below average.
KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State are the two provinces worst-hit by drought‚ but North West‚ Limpopo and Mpumalanga are also suffering.
Dr Francois Engelbrecht from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research told News24 that this is going to be the warmest year ever on the global climate record.
The warming is due to a combination of El Nino and climate change.
El Nino is the warming of the Pacific Ocean from its normal temperatures‚ which often results in severe weather conditions.
“Every 2 to 7 years the Pacific Ocean warms up. We are in such an event now‚ and the ocean temperatures are warmer than normal‚” Engelbrecht said.
“The event is expected to intensify further and peak in December.”
Usually when the global record increases it is by 0.01%. This year it is expected to go beyond 0.1%.
“That is 10 times higher than what is normal.”
Johannesburg imposes water restrictions as some suburbs run dry
The City of Johannesburg has announced level 2 water restrictions as levels drop in Rand Water’s reservoirs.
“Residents will experience low pressure to no water in various areas due to high water demand in Joburg‚” the city said via its twitter account. “The high demand is caused by the heat.”
Residents in the south of the city were bearing the brunt today.
The city said: “Due to Rand Water’s reservoir running empty‚ areas in the Johannesburg south are experiencing a water supply problem. Rand Water is working on this problem. Reservoirs are picking up very slowly‚ this will take time to recover.
“It is against this back drop that the City has to invoke section 44(3) of the water restriction by-law. We urge residents to use water sparingly. Where possible re-use water.”
Consumers and businesses are urged not to water their gardens between 6am and 6pm and to avoid filling swimming pools‚” the city said‚ adding that people should also not wash their cars using hosepipes.
While level one restrictions are an appeal to residents to use water responsibly‚ the city warned that the current water supply interruptions could become more severe.
“#Savewater activities can help avoid implementation of level three restrictions — which will see water supply only at certain periods‚” the city stated.
The news comes as Gauteng is bracing for another heat wave.
Farmers across the country are currently meeting with banks in order to discuss how they can survive the current drought AgriSA’s Johan Pienaar confirmed earlier.
Emerging farmers are particularly threatened as fodder is scarce and the maize crop is well below average.
KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State are the two provinces worst-hit by drought‚ but North West‚ Limpopo and Mpumalanga are also suffering.
Dr Francois Engelbrecht from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research told News24 that this is going to be the warmest year ever on the global climate record.
The warming is due to a combination of El Nino and climate change.
El Nino is the warming of the Pacific Ocean from its normal temperatures‚ which often results in severe weather conditions.
“Every 2 to 7 years the Pacific Ocean warms up. We are in such an event now‚ and the ocean temperatures are warmer than normal‚” Engelbrecht said.
“The event is expected to intensify further and peak in December.”
Usually when the global record increases it is by 0.01%. This year it is expected to go beyond 0.1%.
“That is 10 times higher than what is normal.”
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