The Makana municipal council has imposed water restrictions in Grahamstown, which came into effect on Monday 14 September.
The Makana municipal council has imposed water restrictions in Grahamstown, which came into effect on Monday 14 September.
The council has to impose water restrictions when the volume of water stored in the system (comprising the Jameson, Milner, Howison’s Poort and Settlers Dams) is less than 40 percent of the total consumption of the municipality for the previous 12 months.
Municipal Manager, Ntombi Baart states that the decision is in accordance with the Supreme Court Order of 29 January 1980, the National Water Act (1980), the Makana Municipality Water Supply and Sanitation Services by-laws.
The restrictions include not being alllowed to use a garden hose and/or irrigation systems as well as prohibiting cars to be washed using water from the municiapl supply system. However, an application for special permission to water sports fields and registered nurseries may be obtained which will then allow such persons to water daily between 7am and 9am and 3pm to 5pm.
Baart says a R200 fine will be issued to residents who contravene these restrictions. Baart adds that properties or dwellings situated on or near to the catchment system will be restricted on the volume of water that they may extract. “It must also be noted that the complementing of water from the James Kleinhans works is also limited due to the capacity of the works and the raw water supply in that system,” she said.
Baart says the Chief Financial Officer, Mnikeli Ngcelwane and the director of technical and infrastructural services, Dabula Njilo have been assigned authority to review the restrictions based on the untreated water supply in the municipal systems. According to the report their duties will continue until the restrictions are removed subject to monthly reports being submitted to the council.
