Update
SWELLENDAM NEWS - The municipality has appealed to residents to use water sparingly to prevent more stringent water restrictions or even a tariff increase.
According to municipal manager Anton Groenewald, level 2 water restrictions are being implemented as from 15 January to curb consumption.
"The municipality is currently experiencing lower than normal water flow in the catchment area of the Grootkloof 3 raw water dam. This is a result of later than normal summer rainfall versus the rate of consumption." As this dam is the main water supply to Swellendam town and industrial area as well as Railton, these three areas are affected by the restrictions.
"The Swellendam Municipality is under obligation to react proactively at 70% water levels in storage dams to ensure that a balance is maintained between the raw water collection and the rate of consumption," he said.
"Given the slow response to level 1 restrictions implemented on 6 January and the current rate of consumption despite it, we subsequently decided to implement water restrictions at level 2. Our efforts are entirely dependent on residents' willingness to cooperate, as we are all facing this challenge collectively."
He assured residents that the municipality was managing water resources as best it could and would therefore proceed with caution regarding further restrictions.
"While we may have the authority to increase water tariffs as part of the water restrictions resolution, we will not do so at present, but we are requesting and pleading that all residents heed this call to temporarily reduce their normal consumption patterns until the rainfall pattern resumes and to ensure that we have sufficient resources to see us through the summer season."
He cautioned that if residents failed to heed this warning, the municipality would have to consider water tariff increases in addition to further water restrictions. These restrictions are at present not applicable to any other towns within the municipal district.
Level 2 restrictions imply:
- The use of hosepipes, with or without sprayers is not permitted; lawns may not be watered at all, and plants may only be watered using a bucket;
- All swimming pools i.e. at schools, homes, hotels and guesthouses may only be topped up once a week between 18:00 and 24:00, even numbers on a Saturday and odd numbers on a Sunday;
- All vehicles, private and commercial, may only be washed using a bucket, except for car wash businesses. No hosing down of driveways, parking areas, trucks and other vehicles are permitted;
- Watering of public parks: Monday and Friday, 08:00 - 10:00;
- Sport/playing fields: Wednesday 08:00 - 10:00;
- Golf course: Tuesday and Thursday 08:00 - 10:00.
Read a previous article: Save water or pay up
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