Date: 21st September 2024, Saturday
Author: Quinz Atdah Qeqe
Country: South Africa
Source: Getty Images
SUMMARY
The bulk water utility Rand Water has recently imposed level 1 water usage restrictions on the Gauteng province of South Africa (Ncwane, 2024). With the hot weather season fast approachingĀ in South Africa, an increased demand in water is expected to spike in the coming months. Rand Water has thus imposed level 1 water restrictions in efforts to mitigate a looming crisis in water shortage in the Gauteng province. In recent months Rand Water had completed its planned maintenance of its pipeline infrastructure and valve systems with the aim to manage water usage within the province more effectively, despite this, in a recent Water Imbizo(Convention) Rand Water had highlighted challenges in which it has been facing which has contributed to water cuts in Gauteng. The level 1 water restrictions will prohibit numerous water usage activities and will remain in effect from September 2024 into March 2025 (Mokoena, 2024). Consequently, consumers have been urged to use water sparingly, with municipalities being warned of potential fines for non-compliance to the level 1 water restrictions (Johannesburg Water, 2024).
BACKGROUND
Rand Water is the largest utility which supplies bulk water to the province of Gauteng, South Africa (Johannesburg Water, 2024). In July 2024, Rand Water finalized its planned maintenance of its pipeline infrastructure, this in its efforts to evade an impending water shortage crisis within Gauteng in addition to effectively monitoring its limited abstraction levels from the Integrated Vaal River System(IVRS). Despite this intervention by the utility the level 1 water usage restriction under section 44(3) of the Water Service By Law has been imposed on the Gauteng province (Johannesburg Water, 2024).
The implementation of the level 1 restrictions comes after the Water Imbizo(Convention) held on the 13th September 2024 between Rand Water, The Gauteng Provincial Government and the Department of Water and Sanitation, where Rand Water had revealed the many challenges in which it has been facing (Ncwane, 2024). During the Imbizo, the Group Chief Executive (GCEO) of Rand Water Sipho Mosai indicated that critical challenges such as the increased demand in water supply as well as illegal pipe connections were among the main challenges which has placed a heavy stain on Rand Waters capacity to supply clean bulk water within Gauteng (Malaka, 2024).
Failing Infrastructure has been attributed to the high levels of water outages experienced within the Gauteng province (Casmod, 2024). With the hot weather season fast approaching in South Africa an increased demand in water is expected to spike up in the coming months of summer. In light of this the water utility Rand Water has implemented the level 1 water usage restrictions which will be enforced from September 2024 to March 2025 (Mokoena, 2024).
Rand Water services numerous municipalities within the Gauteng province, municipal communities in Johannesburg and Pretoria ā the economic hubs of the province are said to have in recent years been severely hit by pipeline theft, leaks and failing infrastructure which has affected over 46% of their supply of bulk water from Rand Water (Goko, 2024).
To mitigate the severe strain of water demand expressed by Rand Water, the utility has coordinated its level 1 water restrictions within its service municipalities. Municipal compliance to the level 1 restrictions is paramount in curtailing water outages within municipal communities. Rand Water is committed to monitoring compliance to the level 1 restrictions and has further warned that non-compliance by municipalities could result in potential fines (Gauteng News, 2024).
Awareness programmes in and around the conservation of water has been rolled out within the province. Municipalities have been further urged to enforce the law when alerted of illegal water connections, by disconnect said households or businesses.
Public facilities such as hospitals, clinics, schools and even consumer households are said experience water outages if the level 1 restrictions is not adhered to and water is not used sparingly within the province.
The level 1 water usage restrictions prohibits the watering of gardens between 18:00 to 20:00, the filling of pools, the use of hosepipes to clean pavements and the washing of cars with a hosepipe among other restrictions (Malaka, 2024).
The Department of Water and Sanitation has cautioned Rand Water to adhere to its IVRS abstraction limits as non-compliance could lead to water outages within Rand Waters service areas (Business Tech, 2024). In light of this Rand Water has urged all consumers to use water sparingly, through the exercising of water saving practices and adherence of the level 1 water restrictions.
REFERENCES
1. Business Tech. 2024. Water Restriction Warning For Gauteng, And Cape Town Uber Drivers Strike. September 18th. https://businesstech.co.za/news/5-things/791517/water-restriction-warning-for-gauteng-and-cape-town-uber-drivers-strike/. Date Of Access: 19th September 2024
2. Casmod, S. 2024. High Water Consumption And Failing Infrastructure Responsible For Johannesburg Water Outage. Radio Islam International. September 18th. https://radioislam.org.za/a/high-water-consumption-and-failing-infrastructure-responsible-for-johannesburg-water-outage/. Date Of Access: 19th September 2024
3. Gauteng News. 2024. Gauteng Residents Face Water Restrictions: No Garden Watering Between 6 AM and 6 PM. September 17th. https://gauteng.net/news/gauteng-residents-face-water-restrictions/. Date Of Access: 19th September 2024
4. Getty Images. 2024. Weāve Never Needed Water More Than We Need It Now. https://photos.com/featured/weve-never-needed-water-more-than-we-need-it-now-luminola.html?utm_source=GettyImages&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=GettyImagesBuyPrint. Date Of Access: 19th September 2024
5. Goko, C. 2024. South Africaās Commercial Hub May Face Water Curbs, News24 Says. Bloomberg. September 18th. https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investing/2024/09/18/south-africas-commercial-hub-may-face-water-curbs-news24-says/. Date Of Access: 19th September 2024
6. Hohip, C. 2024. Rand Water Imposes Level 1 Restrictions In Gauteng. Hereās What It Means... EyeWitness News. September 17th. https://www.ewn.co.za/2024/09/17/rand-water-imposes-level-1-restrictions-in-gauteng-here-s-what-it-means. Date Of Access: 19th September 2024
7. Johannesburg Water Newsroom. 2024. Level 1 Water Restrictions Remain In Place In Joburg. September 16th. https://joburg.org.za/media_/Newsroom/Pages/2019%20Newsroom%20Articles/April%202019/Level-1-water-restrictions-remain-in-place-in-Joburg.aspx. Date Of Access: 19th September 2024
8. Johannesburg Water Newsroom. 2024. Water Restrictions In The City Of Johannesburg. September 17th. https://www.johannesburgwater.co.za/water-restrictions-in-the-city-of-johannesburg-4/. Date Of Access: 19th September 2024
9. Malaka, C. 2024. Gauteng Placed On Level 1 Water Restrictions From September ā March 2025. Power987 News. September 17th. https://www.power987.co.za/general/gauteng-placed-on-level-1-water-restrictions-from-september-march-2025/. Date Of Access: 19th September 2024
10. Mokoena, I. 2024. Rand Water Imposes Restrictions. The Citizen. September 17th. https://www.citizen.co.za/rekord/news-headlines/2024/09/17/rand-water-imposes-use-restrictions/. Date Of Access: 19th September 2024
11. Ncane, N. 2024. Rand Water Imposes Level 1 Restrictions In Gauteng As Demand Increases. The South African. September 15th. https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/rand-water-imbizo-level-1-restrictions-in-gauteng-johannesburg-water/. Date Of Access: 19th September 2024
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