Mitigating drought

THE Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in the Western Cape on Tuesday met with water users in the West Coast region, to find ways on how best government and water users can proactively manage the effects of drought.

The engagement comes in the wake of severe water challenges putting pressure on the water supply system. Provincial head Rashid Khan said that all water users, including municipalities, must decrease their water use. This includes refraining from illegal connections and unlawful and wasteful use.

The department launches the Enforcement Month in November by visiting different farms over the next three weeks to monitor compliance and unlawful activities. Four water users from the region will hold hands with the department during this period with the hope of reducing demand while ensuring equitable share.

The Western Cape dam levels continue to drop while temperatures rise. The department has approved restrictions in this region and these are expected to be gazetted soon. Industries are restricted by 40%, municipalities by 50%, and agriculture is restricted by 60%. To ensure that water users adhere to these restrictions, the department has further instructed all sector groups and individuals abstracting water from the Olifants River Catchment Area, dams and/or rivers that form part of the system, to install electronic recording, measuring devices to enable monitoring of abstraction.

Storage and use of existing lawful water must be monitored and links with any monitoring or management system must be established as well as keeping of records of the water use be exercised. Phetho Ntaba Communication Services: Provincial Department of Water & Sanitation