The municipal Environmental Department has drafted a water saving campaign which involves proposed intervention projects on water conservation efforts due to the low levels of the municipal dams.
The municipal Environmental Department has drafted a water saving campaign which involves proposed intervention projects on water conservation efforts due to the low levels of the municipal dams.
According to municipal spokesperson Thandy Matabese, tender applications have been submitted for the campaign and the municipality is currently undertaking the evaluation and adjudication process.
The campaign will kick off once an appropriate tender has been selected which meets the requirements. April’s monthly report of water savings stated that the Makana Municipal area is “experiencing very low levels in our dams as result of drought that has hit the area for some time now”.
The municipality has been enforcing water restrictions and has been urging residents to use water sparingly.
The campaign plans to publicise water conservation efforts to limit water loss and misuse by mobilising residents to support municipal attempts through publicity and other means.
According to the report, this is an integrated approach involving the municipal engineering services and communications department as well as their partners with interest in water related issues such as the Kowie Catchment Campaign (KCC) who participated in drawing up the proposed intervention strategies.
The KCC committee is concerned that people do not take the ongoing drought seriously enough and feel it is up to the municipality to enforce restrictions through with a publicity campaign.
“It is hoped that people will help the municipality and other residents by adhering to the water restriction regulations,”said Kowie Catchment Campaign Chairman, Jim Cambray.
Cambray said that the KCC has a water savings tips document on its website. “We have suggested that the municipality use any blank space when they send out reminders to residents by inserting information on the water crisis including the water saving document.”
The proposed special intervention projects on water conservation is looking at a projected budget of R212 707.
Short-term interventions are proposed to include radio adverts or talks shows, newspaper articles, publicity signage located at strategic points carrying the hot-line number for residents to report water leakages and misuse and the distribution of pamphlets communicating water saving practices.
A proposed law enforcement intervention is aiming to fine or issue warnings to people caught misusing municipal water after the publicity campaign is carried out.
This intervention strategy also proposes that inspections be made on water consuming businesses such as car washes and salons.
Medium to long term proposed interventions should promote rainwater harvesting and investigating water recycling measures where the waste water from Belmont Valley sewage treatment plant could be treated for household use. The time frame for the short term aims of the programme are expected to run over six months.
