Residents urged to use water wisely
Sparing use of groundwater resources is set to save a lot of money
THE CITY has urged residents to use boreholes and wellpoints responsibly and sparingly. “While the extraction of groundwater remains free, responsible water habits should still apply as this is not an unlimited resource,” says mayoral committee member for informal settlements, water and waste services, and energy Xanthea Limberg.
Due to the current severe drought across the country and the low levels of dams, residents have been encouraged to shift to using alternative water sources.
Limberg said the restrictions on the use of potable water had motivated many residents to install either boreholes or wellpoints to tap into Cape Town’s groundwater resources to supplement their potable supply, as well as to save money.
However, the City encouraged residents to use groundwater sparingly as this was not an unlimited resource.
If too much groundwater was extracted too quickly, it might become depleted.
“The uptake of boreholes and wellpoints is very useful in taking pressure off our dams at a time when they are reaching dangerously low levels.
“For this reason, the city is recommending that customers with boreholes restrict their watering to the hours prescribed in the restrictions, or at the very least limit their watering to the early mornings and late evenings to avoid evaporation,” Limberg said.
Although the national government was the custodian of water resources and was responsible for regulating and controlling/ restricting use directly from the resource, the City would be lobbying the government to more tightly regulate this resource as more and more residents elected to explore groundwater extraction for domestic use.
She advised residents who wanted to use groundwater that they would need to apply to sink a new borehole or well-point at least 14 days before installation.
Information on how to apply could be found on http://tinyurl.com/gw2hagq
Limberg also reminded residents that once installed, boreholes would need to be registered.
Information on how to register could be found on http://tinyurl.com/jt8ac72
“Application for and registration of boreholes helps us gather information for environmental monitoring and research purposes and is not in place so that residents can be charged.
“Water from boreholes and wells remains free. As a ‘thank you’, the City will send applicants and those who register their boreholes a certificate of appreciation and a free weather-proof display sign,” Limberg said. – ANA
The City recommends that residents with boreholes restrict watering to the hours laid down in the restrictions.