Water utility Rand Water has lifted water restrictions in Gauteng following the stabilisation in reservoir levels.
In a statement on Wednesday, the water utility said reservoir levels have increased from 30% to 60%.
“Following the high water consumption brought about by the high temperatures and subsequent restrictions, reservoir levels in Rand Water systems have stabilised and increased from 30% to above 60% currently,” said the company.
“Stabilisation of the systems, assisted by good rains, has been a joint and collaborative effort by Rand Water and the three metros [Joburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni].”
The residents in various metros in the province have been struggling with water supply for over a month as Rand Water tried to avoid a system crash amid rolling power cuts.
In August, the utility said numerous areas in Gauteng would experience water outages due to maintenance work at one of its pipelines which was constructed to augment a portion of the B6 pipeline.
According to the utility, collaborative efforts have concluded to agree on a philosophy that will ensure that water management practices are maintained to keep systems stable throughout the hot seasons.
“Rand Water will therefore lift the water restrictions, effective immediately. In consultation with the metros, a philosophy has been agreed to which will ensure that best water management practices are left in place to ensure that systems are kept stable throughout the coming hot months.
“Through these collaborative efforts, the metros have managed to reduce consumption and manage own systems effectively and efficiently. Therefore, reduced consumption and leak repairs will be the new order. Rand Water would like to thank the metros and its citizens for their cooperation during this time.”
Meanwhile, the DA has lodged a complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission over the water crisis in Gauteng.
“Rand Water has been calling on our residents to use water sparingly, yet during our recent oversight inspection of the pumping station and water reservoir in Eikenhof, we discovered that there is a water leak right outside their premises,” said the DA in a statement.
Water is a basic human right which, according to the DA, is currently being violated by the water utility.
“Access to water is a basic human right and this right is currently being infringed on by Rand Water, which is throttling supply to various reservoirs and pumping stations in the province. Access to this right should not become dangerous, and our residents pay for a service that they expect to be delivered without interruption.”
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa. To Subscribe to Sunday World, click here.
