George Municipality has implemented emergency tariffs and tougher water restrictions as the town’s main water supply, the Garden Route Dam, dropped to 45% last week. The new Section 2C restrictions limit household consumption to 15 kilolitres per month.

George’s Municipal Manager Trevor Botha said that although Section 2B water restrictions had been in place since 1 June, there has been little rainfall and usage figures dropped only minimally from 30 Mℓ per day in May and June to 28 Mℓ in July.

“As the dam has now dropped to 45% the Municipal Drought Management Policy determines that Section 2C restrictions come into effect. We hope emergency tariffs will have the desired effect of reducing consumption,” said Botha.

Households using more than 15 kilolitres a month will be charged extra per kilolitre on an upwards scale for exceeding the monthly quota. Businesses, entertainment industries and other users will be required to reduce consumption by 15%, may be fined and will face additional charges of 1.5 times their tariff.

This means George households will have to cut municipal water usage by about half to ensure they do not exceed the monthly limit. According to Botha, the current average household consumption per month is 20 to 30 kilolitres.

 

The implications of Section 2C restrictions include:

• Households shall be limited to 15 kilolitres per month (flow reducing devices will be installed where limits are exceeded).
• Other users, businesses and entertainment industries must reduce consumption by 15% of their average use over the previous six months. This includes commercial car washes and other businesses dependent on municipal water.
• Large industries must reduce consumption by 10% of their average use over the previous six months.
• Gardens may only be watered using water cans or buckets, any time of the day.
• The irrigation/watering of all sportsfields using municipal water is prohibited.
• Washing of vehicles with a garden hose is prohibited. Buckets are allowed.
• Cleaning of any outside surfaces area using a water hose with municipal water is prohibited.
• Filling up of swimming pools with municipal water is prohibited.
• Where own water from a borehole or reservoir is used ‘OWN WATER’ signage must be displayed, and officials may ask for proof of such.
• Emergency tariffs for other users (schools, old age homes, etc.) shall be 1.5 times more as per their specific published tariff as per the annual municipal tariffs list.

Contraventions of water restrictions can be reported on 044 801 6350. Repeat offenders can expect to pay up to R4 000 per offence, depending on the offence, or be jailed for up to six months if found guilty.