Floods ease water restrictions

WATER restrictions are being lifted in Waterloo, Verulam, King Shaka International Airport and other areas in the north of eThekwini, Umgeni Water has announced.

Umgeni Water spokesman, Shami Harichunder, said: “There is, at this stage, adequate water to meet the demands of eThekwini Metro, Sembcorp Siza Water and iLembe District Municipality, at volumes that were provided before the onset of water shortages and implementation of water restrictions.”

He said this was thanks to the rains in July and last month, which resulted in flooding in some areas

around Durban. About 180ml of rain fell in this period, he said.

The lifting of the restrictions began yesterday.

“A great deal of hardship and inconvenience was felt by consumers and providers of water services, but the strategies implemented were imperative to prevent large-scale, acute water shortages and the possibility of Hazelmere Dam drying up,” Harichunder said.

The restrictions which were gazetted for the Hazelmere water treatment plant supply area (north of eThekwini and parts of iLembe) would now be amended by the Department of Water and Sanitation, said Harichunder.

Harichunder noted the financial impact of the drought.

“Water sales reduced significantly, resulting in a drop in revenue. In some instances, expensive emergency projects, among them transfer schemes and water recycling, have had to be implemented to augment resources,” he said.

eMdloti Ward 58 councillor Geoff Pullan said he was delighted and that “generally people have been good”, but cautioned people not to use water recklessly because the drought was not over.