The Polokwane Municipality says it will tighten controls and punish any water wastage as supply remains under strain.

The Council has further resolved that there will be no watering of gardens and washing of vehicles or paving allowed and a fine of R1000 will be issued for non-compliance, according to a statement released by the municipality.

“One of the main causes of water shortages is the fact that people are watering their gardens during the hot days. We continue to experience water shortages even though Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) is supplying us with the maximum quota from Olifantspoort and Ebenezer plants,” says Executive Mayor, Councillor Thembi Nkadimeng.

According to Nkadimeng the municipality is still in negotiations with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) regarding the extension of abstractions licence from the Olifantspoort and Ebenezer plants.

Indications are that the principle approval has been granted for both plants, development of the necessary infrastructure will however take some time to implement.

Engagements with DWS and Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) are also continuing regarding the water allocations and financing of the schemes.

Load shedding perpetuating Polokwane water shortage

According to the municipality the current power outages from the load shedding programme at Olifantspoort and Ebenezar plants is creating more problems to the supply of water to the city as it is now getting less water, which is not enough to reach high lying areas in Bendor, Flora Park, Serala View and Ster Park.

“The municipality is working on sourcing more water tankers to provide temporary aid to affected areas. A water tanker will be moving between the affected areas,” says Nkadimeng.

She adds that the municipality will communicate a schedule for water tankers once more tankers are sourced.

On Tuesday, 09 December 2014, the municipality reported that the Krugersburg 50ML reservoir was at 9% of its capacity while the Krugersburg 30ML was at 4%. The Potgieter reservoir was at 75%, Extension 34 was at 95% and the Seshego reservoir at 13%of its capacity.