J-Bay delays water curbs
Tight deadline to cut consumption after council agrees to introduce restrictions only next month
KOUGA Municipality has delayed an instruction by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to cut back on water, due to an influx of holidaymakers descending on Jeffreys Bay. This means water restrictions, together with punitive charges, will only be implemented from next month.
The decision to delay the move was taken during a council meeting in Jeffreys Bay yesterday.
Kouga mayor Elza van Lingen was asked to write to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to inform it of the decision.
Infrastructure, planning and development political head Desmond Peterson told the council that Nelson Mandela Bay was under strict water restrictions which meant Kouga was also affected.
“We know there was a directive from the minister to the metro to reduce water usage. For that reason we also have to reduce consumption.
“The recommendation is that the water restrictions be implement with effect from January 1 since we are in our peak season,” he said.
“Also, it is too short notice now to impose [restrictions].
“We as the municipality also must address a letter to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality where we inform them.”
Kouga councillors agreed that a water conservation campaign be started immediately and that all leaks should be fixed.
ANC councillor Sibongile Jujwana said the municipality should start saving water immediately.
“We must be an example before we go to the public asking them to save water. In our townships there are leaking pipes, we must fix them,” Jujwana said.
Nelson Mandela Bay infrastructure, engineering and electricity portfolio councillor Annette Lovemore said: “We have given Kouga until end March to reduce its water usage by 15%. This equates to four months from the date we announced this in our council meeting on December 1.
“At this stage, Kouga will be charged tariffs on the same punitive level applicable in the metro if they do not cut their usage by 15% by the end of February.”
Lovemore said the metro was in danger of water shedding if not enough was saved.
“We are still using way too much water. We have to drop to an average of 250l a day per household. I remain fearful that . . . water shedding, could be imminent,” she said.
Water leaks can be reported on 0800-205-050.
We have to drop to an average of 250l a day per household