Makana Municipality has released a series of water conservation measures effective from 4 October to 10 October in response to the ongoing water outages which started two weeks prior.
Makana Municipality has released a series of water conservation measures effective from 4 October to 10 October in response to the ongoing water outages which started two weeks prior.
These restrictions are due to the low levels at the Howieson's Poort dam, which needs to refill for water to be restored to all of Grahamstown.
According to a statement by municipal manager Pravine Naidoo, he has signed a 5-year contract with the Amatola water board who have deployed experts to deal with the maintenance of the bulk water reticulation system for the next 5 years.
They have also announced the commencement of social awareness campaigns that will focus on water conservation and will run concurrently with the Amatola Water’s progress plan.
Members of the Bavumile Water project will be trained to teach residents about water conservation and the status of the water reticulation system in Makana.
Naidoo has established a 24-hour joint operation centre from 4 October until the water crisis is resolved. According to the release, there will be Customer Care staff taking calls and registering queries.
The number dedicated solely to this purpose is 080 111 6134.
There are restrictions that will be imposed immediately to make sure that the community has adequate water supply.
Municipal water may not be used for watering gardens, lawns, parks and public open spaces until 10 October.
Thereafter, the restrictions will be relaxed.
Until further notice, the municipality has requested that residents water their gardens on even numbered houses between on Tuesdays and Fridays only. Uneven numbered houses can water their gardens between 8am and 9am and 7pm to 8pm on Mondays and Thursdays only.
Only single hand-held hoses and drip irrigation systems (excluding sprinklers and pop-ups) are allowed.
The use of hosepipes connected directly or indirectly to the municipality’s distribution system for the purpose of washing or rinsing motor vehicles, motor cycles or motor boats, movable or immovable structures, paths, pavements and paved areas (regardless of the nature of the material used for paving such areas), is prohibited.
These restrictions don't apply to the watering of plants in nurseries that are conducted as a business, nurseries owned by the Council or collections maintained for research purposes.
Certain paved areas at abattoirs and premises used for the processing of foods may be washed, and car valet services are allowed.
Amatola Water has promised that there will be uninterrupted water supply in the next coming 4 days to the community. Until this is resolved, residents are urged to comply with restrictions so that we have a smooth running of water supply in Makana.
