Phase 2 of water blitz begins in bid to prevent Day Zero

THE Department of Water and Sanitation in the Western Cape is to roll out the second phase of its water enforcement and monitoring blitz.

The blitz is part of the department’s drought intervention.

Department spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said the second phase follows a meeting the department had yesterday.

“Some of the departments and government entities forming phase two of the blitz include the NPA, Western Cape Liquor Authority, Department of Environmental Affairs, Development and Planning and the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Water Management. The second phase will focus more on the Breede-Overberg catchment areas, as well as the Berg-Olifants water management areas for wineries.”

During the operation, the department will be focusing on compliance with restrictions, installation of water meters and discharge, while other state organs will focus on licensing and working conditions.

“The NPA will prioritise all the contraventions it came across during the blitz.”

Department regulations director Boniswa Hene said it involved other departments in a bid to emphasis that all users comply with the water restrictions. The current restrictions state that water users are required to install electronic metering devices and submit their readings on a weekly basis.

Ratau said: “Working with different municipalities, the department will also put emphasis on the illegal abstraction and selling of surface and ground water in 1 000 litre tanks for pools and construction sites.”