Reduce water consumption and preserve available water resources
The City of Ekurhuleni would like to remind its residents and businesses that although water restrictions have not been promulgated at this stage, the prohibition of irrigation between 7am and 5pm still applies.
The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) is urging its residents to use water sparingly following calls from the National Department of Water and Sanitation.
The department implemented a planned two-month shut down of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) on October 1 for maintenance work to take place.
The LHWP augments the water resources in the Integrated Vaal River System, which provides water to Rand Water.
No water will be transferred to the system for the duration of the shutdown.
The water in the system is significantly lower than this time last year with the levels in 2018 being 81.4 per cent compared to the 66.3 per cent it is currently.
CoE would like to remind its residents and businesses that although water restrictions have not been promulgated at this stage, the prohibition of irrigation between 7am and 5pm still applies.
Tips to help reduce your consumption and preserve the available water resources:
1. Turn the tap off between washing your face, brushing your teeth or shaving.
2. Taking a five-minute shower a day, instead of a bath, which will use a third of the water used bathing in a bathtub. If you prefer to bath, do not fill up the bath tub.
3. Use low-flow showerheads, dual-flush toilet mechanisms and water-efficient washing machines.
4. Fix leaking toilets and avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily by disposing of tissues, insects and other waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
5. Do not excessively backwash your swimming pool.
6. Use a bucket rather than a hose to wash your car and water the garden.
7. Always water your plants during the early morning hours or in the evening, when temperatures are cooler to avoid losing water to evaporation.
8. Plant indigenous and non-water-consumptive plants
9. Roof water can also be profitably stored in tanks for watering gardens.
10. Use “grey water”, which is used water from baths, washing machines and other safe sources, to water your garden.
