Conserve water
NOT OUT OF THE WOODS: Despite heavy downpours over Cape Town yesterday, the City has embarked on a door-to-door campaign to urge consumers to keep on saving water.
KEEP on saving water now while there is water, as a long, harsh summer lies ahead, city councillors and staff are telling residents when they hit the streets for direct engagement with them.
Water reserves have to be built during the winter months while the weather is cooler and slightly wetter because dam levels remain critically low, mayco member for area south Eddie Andrews told residents and commuters in Mitchells Plain.
With not much prospect of rain, areabased mayco members, city councillors, water inspectors, law enforcement officers and staff have taken their appeal to the streets.
“Although our water-saving awareness drive was well received by residents, we are alarmed at the number of people who are still not completely familiar with the water restriction requirements or ways in which they could save water.
“We need residents to take responsibility now and not to ease up during these winter months. Saving water needs to become our new normal and it is important that we hold each other accountable during this critical time.
“We will all be affected equally if we do not build up the necessary reserves, so I urge all residents across the metro to become water ambassadors for Cape Town and to report anyone who is still not abiding by the Level 4b water restrictions,” said Andrews. As part of the city’s proactive interventions, emergency work, pressure reduction programmes and hefty fines for those who break the Level 4b laws, the city will begin a major upgrade of the Bellville area water pipework network from 8pm tonight until June 30, 2018.
Residents in Welgemoed, Welgedacht, Kanonberg, Van Riebeeckshof, Oude Westhof, Protea Valley, Door de Kraal, Loevenstein, Boston, Tygervalley, Kenridge, Rosendal, Ridgeworth, Oakdale, Bloemhof, Blomtuin, Stellenberg, Eversdal, Vredekloof and Brackenfell can expect slight supply disruptions while work is done at night on the reticulation network, said city spokesperson Farouk Robertson.
“The main aim of this exercise is to identify and locate zone valves which control the feeds to the areas from our reservoirs.
“Depending on the pressure, the City may install pressure-reducing valves in certain areas to reduce pressure.
“Water pressure has been the main cause of pipe bursts in these areas. In addition, the reticulation system is being upgraded and maintained to reduce pipe bursts in general,” said Robertson.
He asked residents to ensure their taps were closed to avoid water losses and to avoid damage when the supply is restored. They should store water in sealed containers for domestic use while work is under way.