Water audit coming

From Page 3

The registration of water use is not an authorisation or entitlement to use water and is subject to validation and verification by the department.

Water users who obtain their water via a bulk supplier, i.e. municipality or a water board, or schedule 1 users (domestic) are not required to register their water use.

Non-registered users wishing to apply for verification of an existing lawful use will be afforded the opportunity to submit contact, property and water use details at a time an existing lawful use determination will be conducted and this use will be registered.

Water users benefit from the validation and verification process in the following ways:

• Legal certification of the extent of water use entitlements on the property

• Identification and eradication of unlawful water uses in the project area

• Ensures water use registration details are correct, updated and accurate to enable the correct application of water use charges

• Improve management of local water resources

Meanwhile, the department has warned that the level of dams in the Eastern Cape continues to decline each week due to insufficient rains in some parts of the province.

“Water supply is heavily affected and as a result municipalities have been compelled to impose water restrictions to reduce consumption and ensure water security," the Department said in a media release.

“The Department of Water and Sanitation is appealing to all the water users in the province to use water wisely to meet future demands.”

Average dam levels in the province are at 62.1% compared to last year when the dam levels were at 73.7%, the Department said, with the Algoa Water Supply System and Amathole Water Supply System at 43.1% and 72.5% respectively. Both have decreased compared to last year.

“Residents are urged to adhere to water-saving measures to ensure the demand meets supply for future needs.

The department will continue to monitor the dam levels and inform the public so that people can change their behaviour and see the need to use water sparingly.”

Residents are urged to adhere to water-saving measures to ensure the demand meets supply for future needs.