Government has warned that the Vaal River System could reach critical levels within two weeks if Gauteng residents do not urgently and significantly reduce water usage.

According to a statement by Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), the Vaal River System is currently at an average dam level of 27% capacity. This is the total average for the 14 dams that supply the system. The Vaal Dam in particular is losing water levels at an increasing rate of 1 % every week.

This warning comes nearly two months after the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) implemented water restrictions for the Integrated Vaal River System, which largely affects water users in Gauteng. These restrictions included the 15% reduction in consumption by domestic users and 20% reduction for irrigation users.

According to government, a combination of weather patterns, insufficient rainfall and irresponsible water usage across the province, are all indications that the system may reach a level of 25% in the next two weeks if there is no reduction in consumption.

This will trigger the next level of interventions which could mean an increase in the percentage of water restrictions across the board.

Joint Operational Centre to monitor situation

In response to the situation, CoGTA, the DWS and Rand Water are establishing a Joint Operational Centre (JOC) in the province. The purpose of the JOC is to plan around and improve the state of readiness for any form of contingency in the wake of the steady decrease of water levels in the province. It will also be responsible for issues such as the monitoring of water levels, monitoring of water restrictions and any form of disaster management associated with the water crisis currently experienced in the province.

Government has urged all residents to use water sparingly, particularly during the hot summer months when demand is high.

“Gauteng may very well be declared a water disaster area if no drastic measures are put into effect as a matter of urgency. To avoid this dire situation, water users are urged to be responsible and this include changing their attitudes and behaviour and reporting non-compliant users whilst municipalities need to be more responsive in repairing and maintain the water infrastructure,” said MEC Paul Mashatile.

“If we are to secure enough water for each citizen amidst this very real water crisis, we need to pull together and do every bit we can to save and preserve our water resources in our province,” he concluded.