Water restrictions cannot be lifted because dam levels are still insufficient
THE improved dam water levels in the Western Cape – which have since reached 54% – have resulted in the easing of water restrictions in the West Coast region of this drought ravaged province.
However, for other parts of the province the restrictions would be reviewed during the course of the hydrology cycle (rainy season) which would end in October.
The Water and Sanitation Minister, Mr Gugile Nkwinti, has urged residents to use water responsibly so that the country might not run out of this life saving natural asset.
Recently the department and the water users held a drought meeting in Bellville near Cape Town where it was reported that water restrictions have been lifted on 11 July 2018 in areas around the Clanwilliam Dam and the Bolshoek Dam area, where the dam water levels have exceeded 85%.
This is good news for farmers and domestic water users of the western districts towns because they will now be able to plan in advance their crop and vineyard growing programmes.
Both the farmers and the domestic users such as industries and households will now, in these areas, enjoy cheaper water supplies.
The next assessment of the dam levels will be done in September.
When dams are full, the sluices are opened so that the dams could not be too full as that might lead to damage of the dam walls.
The department has established a committee which comprises water users, the department officials and municipalities or water regulators that meets regularly to assess the water situation in the country.
However, water restrictions could not be lifted for the tourism mecca, the Cape Town area, because the dam levels in the metro area have, despite the recent rains, not reached levels that could justify the lifting of the restrictions.
As such water restrictions for other areas would be considered again next month should more rains fall in the Western Cape province.
The Western Cape has since April been blessed with regular weekly rains which have helped to reduce the dilapidating effects of the long drought that has hit our major wine producing province.
During the drought meeting the farmers and the metro officials called on the department to take into effect the improved water storage levels and to relax the water restrictions. The problem with the lifting of water restrictions so early during the hydrology cycle is that there is no guarantee that more rains would fall before the end of October.
Should the country run out of water, there would be no agricultural production which would endanger food security. Schools would be closed down and the factories cannot operate without water.
Without water, everything would come to a standstill and the economy would be ruined.
It is for this reason that the department has taken a cautionary approach towards relaxing water restrictions.
We are not yet out of the woods. The drought will only be broken if normal rains for the Western Cape and other drought-stricken areas like the Port Elizabeth area fall regularly for the next three consecutive years.
Drought means less rainfall for more than one rainy season of an area. The drought meeting heard that alternative water sources should be considered urgently to prevent any economic mayhem that might be caused by future droughts.
Alternative water sources would save our water scarce country from depending solely on surface water which is occasioned by rains. Alternative water sources, such as recycling and re-use of water, have proved to be expensive, though.
The excruciating drought has forced the water sector stakeholders to work as a unit, instead of operating in silos. Water saving measures have reduced the loss of plants in some municipalities.
However, water restrictions have made water an expensive commodity because of higher tariffs that have been levied by the municipalities.
Delegates at the Bellville drought meeting heard that alien plants, coupled with water evaporation, were the main causes of water losses in our dams.
During robust discussions, some of the delegates called on the municipalities to adjust water restrictions in accordance with monthly dam levels.
Other delegates called on municipalities to predetermine restriction measures so the business and the agriculture sectors could be able to plan properly in advance.
The drought meeting resolved to keep water restrictions until their next meeting in August when they would be considered again.