Rationing of water now under way

THE CITY announced yesterday that water rationing is under way as it faces critical shortages.

The City put into effect stage one of its critical water shortages disaster plan and said consumption remains too high – at 600 million litres of collective usage a day – 100 million litres above the crucial consumption target of 500 million litres a day.

“This action intensifies the preceding months of pressure management which continues to be done in an attempt to force water consumption down to required levels.”

The MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, said the situation was getting worse.

“We are doing everything within our power to ensure no community runs dry over the coming months but we must advise that matters will in all likelihood only get worse from here on until our next rainfall season.”

He said the key focus was on the most vulnerable areas, like hospitals and schools.

Premier Helen Zille has called on the private sector, academics, experts and the whole of society “to bear the responsibility of conserving this precious resource”.

Mayco member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services Xanthea Limberg said the City was looking into a mix of alternative water resources, such as desalination and groundwater reclamation.