A drought declaration was affirmed for Gauteng in early October however the City of Johannesburg plans to introduce stronger water restrictions to further reduce water consumption by 15%.

The City is expected to reduce its usage after the Department of Water and Sanitation indicated fast declining water levels in the Vaal River system. Dams within the system have a current capacity of 51% however the Vaal has declined to 30%.

If water usage does not reduce by 15%

According to Anthony Still, MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services at Joburg Water, if water usage does not decrease and levels at the Vaal drop below 20%, the following will happen:

• Tighter water restrictions (level-3) will be implemented until a 15% reduction in water usage has been achieved and maintained. This entails water rationing which could cause wide scale water disruptions and severe damage to water infrastructure.
• Outflow from the dam’s reservoirs and water towers will be reduced to affect consumer behaviour and protect reticulation infrastructure.
• A reduced flow of water as a result of lower water pressure.
• Areas that do not reduce consumption may experience low flow or lack of water.
• The possibility to charge a penalty fee on households that exceed current surcharge tariffs on consumption above 20 000L/household/month.

“Johannesburg Water will adopt a targeted approach in determining where decreases in consumption are required,” Still said in a statement. “The insufficient decrease in water consumption in the City so far indicates a lack of appreciation for the precarious position the City and region are in,” he added.

He also said that more than 40% of potable water in Gauteng was being used for gardening purposes.

Current level-2 water restrictions

According to section 44 (3) of the Water Services By-law, residents have to comply with the following level-2 water restrictions.

• No use of any irrigation or sprinkler systems for watering gardens with municipal water.
• Watering only before 06h00 or after 18h00 with a hand held hosepipe.
• No filling pools with municipal water. It is recommended that pool owners invest in a cover to reduce evaporation.
• No washing cars and cleaning paved areas with a hose pipe using municipal water.

Some useful ways to reduce water usage

• Shower instead of filling bath
• Do not leave the tap running while washing your hands or brushing your teeth
• Fix any leaks that your pipes might have
• Run the dishwasher and washing machine when they’re full
• Wash your car using a bucket, do not let water from the hose run
• Water your garden before sunrise