CHDM mayor urges people to use water responsibly

Underground water sources and streams are expected to gradually subside in the Chris Hani area in the dry winter season.

As such, Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) executive mayor Wongama Gela has called on residents to use water sparingly.

Gela said water sources had not been able to recover adequately in summer due to the low rainfall experienced. We urge people to continue “reporting water leaks outside their premises and to repair those inside their yards,” he said.

CHDM is recorded as one

“of the drought-prone areas in the country and has been battling with severe drought conditions for some time. This state has continuously “exerted pressure, not only on water service provision to households, but also on the economy as agricultural activities are equally affected.”

To sustain access to drinking water, the district municipality would continue to apply scheduled restrictions in areas where it was necessary, he said.

Meanwhile, Mthwakazi residents of ward 2 in Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality are said to have been without water for the past three weeks due to a faulty water pump.

A resident of the area, Sisa Soya, said: We have been

“calling the CHDM customer care line, but did not receive any help.”

CHDM spokesperson Thobeka Mqamelo said she would inform the call centre team to contact the residents so that the matter could be attended to.

While the levels of some dams are still high, Enoch Mgijima s Waterdown Dam is at

’

34.7%, while the Bonkolo Dam remains below measuring level.

Xonxa boasts 97.3% of capacity, while Paradise and Carnarvon dams in Molteno and Sterkstroom were said to be full. Emalahleni s Macubeni Dam

’ is at 94.9%, Doornrivier is at Indwe is at 83.5%, Intsika Yethu s Tsojana is at 97.9%,

’

Ncora is at 97.4%, Lubisi is at

53.1% and Sakhisizwe s

’ Thomson in Khowa is at 91%.

The mayor implored residents to practice Covid-19 safety measures by wearing face masks, frequently washing their hands, observing social distancing in public areas and to go out only when necessary.

Testing positive for Covid

“

19 does not mean a death sentence adhering to set

– health protocols is key,” he said.