City curbs public pools access to save water
‘The situation is not ideal, but I trust the public can appreciate the severity’
DUE to stricter water restriction measures in Cape Town, the operating times of public swimming pools have been changed “for the remainder of the summer season”.
The city said with the exception of Sea Point, the Mnandi Resort pool, and indoor facilities in Long Street, Retreat, Blue Downs and Strand, all public pools will be closed from Monday to Thursday. This will start from next Monday.
The swimming pools will only be open to the public from 2pm until 5pm on Fridays, and from 10am-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays, until the end of March.
Public pools will be open on weekends in Athlone, Atlantis, Bellville, Bonteheuwel, Brown’s Farm, Delft, Eastridge, Elsies River, Enthonjeni, Goodwood, Hanover Park, Kensington, Khayelitsha, Langa, Lentegeur, Manenberg, Monwabisi, Morning Star, Muizenberg, Observatory, Parow North, Parow Valley, Ravensmead, Ruyterwacht, Vulindlela, and Wynberg.
Newlands, Westridge and Trafalgar pools are closed for the season due to upgrades.
Mayco member for safety and security and social services JP Smith said: “According to previous swimming pooluser logs, attendance during weekdays averaged at around 75 people per day during February and March 2016 and around 150 people per day on weekends.”
“This shows that the swimming pools are used 50% more over weekends, compared with weekdays during February and March. With the low usage levels during the week, it is impractical to keep these pools open while facing the current water crisis in Cape Town.”
At the beginning of this week, dam levels in the province had dropped to 37.5% and the city said that because its pools needed to be backwashed every day to maintain optimum water quality levels, it was estimated that more than 1 680 kl of water per day would be saved by the closures.
With pools only staying open on weekends, only one backwash per week would be needed, while showers at pools would also be switched off and splashing in pools would also be monitored. The city added that only normal bathing costumes may be worn at public swimming pools as significant water could be wasted just by swimming in casual clothing.
“The situation is not ideal, but I trust the public can appreciate the severity of the situation and will support this measure, over and above their individual water-saving efforts. We need to look at the bigger picture and, frankly, a short-term sacrifice like this is a small price to pay if we consider the impact it will have on our longer-term water supply and needs,” Smith said.
The city has provided an email address for people who want to report water-wasters, underground water-pipe leakages and culprits contravening its new water restrictions.
Mayco member for informal settlement, water and waste services and energy councillor Xanthea Limberg; said: “Contraventions of water restrictions should please rather be reported to: water.restrictions@ capetown.gov.za. This is the dedicated channel for water restrictions, enquiries and complaints.
“Furthermore, residents who would like to make any water and sanitation-related service requests can also do so by sending an SMS to 31373.
“Residents could also log service requests on the city’s website: www.capetown.gov.za by clicking “request a service” on the homepage, and following the prompts.”