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Ekurhuleni using ‘pressure management’ to reduce water usage

Ekurhuleni Metro is implementing measures to cut water consumption by 15%.

The municipality said this was in response to a call by the Department of Water and Sanitation to reduce water consumption.

Spokesman Themba Gadebe said the municipality was implementing level two restrictions‚ adding that residents throughout the metro may have already started experiencing low water pressure as a result of “pressure management” initiated by the city since Tuesday.

“A government gazette notice published on August 12 instructed water boards and municipalities to reduce their abstraction of water from the integrated Vaal River system. This is due to prolonged drought conditions over the past few years that have put the system under severe pressure‚” said Gadebe.

The replacement of aged water infrastructure will be treated with utmost urgency.

 He said in order to respond adequately to water leaks‚ the city had increased capacity to respond to complaints laid by the public.

Gadebe no filling of swimming pools from the municipal water supply would be permitted and the use of hosepipes and sprinklers for watering‚ washing cars or cleaning outdoor areas was not allowed.

“The city will implement fines in terms of the municipal bylaws for all those founds to be contravening these restrictions.

“The City of Ekurhuleni will further apply zero tolerance to the illegal connection of water. We will soon announce additional water restrictions as well as the punitive tariff that will be applied‚” Gadebe said.

 

 

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