Ekurhuleni thanks public

The City of Ekurhuleni yesterday thanked residents and businesses for making an effort to meet water savings targets.

The city made a call to residents and business on August 12 last year to reduce water consumption by 15% to ensure that the abstraction from the Vaal River System was reduced to meet the national water and sanitation department target, city spokesperson Themba Gadebe said.

“However, over the past three months, the 15% weekly target was achieved in only two weeks.

“To reach the 15% target, Ekurhuleni implemented water restrictions and started rationing water to reduce consumption levels,” he said.

To reduce water use by 15%, the city’s consumption target was 842 618kl a week.

“Any consumption below 842 618kl means residents have used less water and therefore exceeded the 15% target. Any consumption above 842 618kl means the city is using more water than the target and the percentage would dip below 15%.”

On January 31, the Vaal Dam level was at 63.5%. With winter approaching, the dam needed to be at 80% to give the city sufficient water before the summer rain began later in the year. The national department would review water restrictions in May this year.

The water rationing schedule will also be continued (available on the city’s website). – ANA