Metro implements Tariff C of Water Restrictions to avoid a dry July
Published: May 20, 2021<< BACK TO NEWS
METRO IMPLEMENTS TARIFF C OF WATER RESTRICTIONS TO AVOID A DRY JULY
As the Metro continues to experience severe drought, with the dam levels now at just above 12 percent, the Metro continues to work around the clock to avoid the catastrophic situation of parts of the Metro running dry by July of this year. I call on all residents and business to take hands with us, and work together to avert this crisis – we are in this together!
Following my announcement a few weeks ago about the dire water situation, and the plans the Metro has implemented I mentioned that for us as a Metro to overcome the situation, we need to work together and drastically reduce water consumption.
Some of the immediate interventions that the Metro has implemented to combat this situation includes;
1.Stepping up water leak identification & repairs
2.An intensified Communication and Awareness campaign
3.Operationalising the Impofu Dam barge to extract more water
4.Introducing the Grassridge Temporary Treatment Works to add 35 Ml/d to our water system
5.Maximising the Nooitgedagt Supply Zone: Phase 3 of which will be online by September 2021
6.Sinking of Groundwater Boreholes to add 15 Ml/d by July 2022
7.The roll out of flow restrictors, beginning with the top 100 high water users
8.Basic Water: Standpipes, Water Tanks and Water Trucks for areas that may run out of water.
9.Construction of a pipeline to connect KwaNobuhle to the rest of the Metro supply, completion of which is expected in November 2021
Some medium to long term measures that the Metro has also embarked upon includes;
1.The Coegakop Water Treatment Works to add 15Ml/d by September 2022
2.The KwaNobuhle pump station to be operational by July 2022
3.A Desalination plant at Coega (planned to be operational by March 2022) and another in the planning phases to be situated at Schoenmakerskop.
The Metro has embarked on an aggressive communication drive, focusing on education and encouraging water usage behavioural change. Despite these attempts, we have not seen a noticeable decrease in consumption and water usage remains high. This is confirmed by the fact that our consumption has not changed from the average 300Ml/d. The Metro is required to use less than 250Ml/d as per the National Department of Water and Sanitation’s allocation. More communication and awareness initiatives led by my office will be rolled out across the Metro.
It must be noted that we are highly conscious that our residents have cried out for the Metro to also play its part and fix water leaks. The coalition government takes water losses very seriously and an intensive effort of fixing water leaks and maintaining our water distribution infrastructure is underway. The combined effort of our internal plumbers and the seven plumbing companies appointed to fix water leaks has made great strides in addressing the historical backlog of water leaks.
We continue to call on our people and businesses to work with us to save as much water as possible. It can only be through united efforts that we can avoid a Dry July.
If we continue on our current trajectory of water usage and receive no rains in our catchment areas the following projected timelines of dams running dry will come to fruition resulting in the water available in our system being dramatically reduced and certain suburbs running dry;
o1 July - Kouga Dam will run dry – this is in 6 weeks time
o1 August - Churchill Dam will run dry – this is in 10 weeks time
o1 October - Impofu Dam will run dry – this is in 19 weeks time
o1 December - Groendal Dam will run dry – this is in 23 weeks time
With that said, the coalition government has taken a decision to implement Part C water tariffs. Both National Treasury and the National Department of Water and Sanitation have repeatedly indicated their concern that these have not already been implemented in an effort to reduce water consumption. As the coalition government the intention is not to punish residents who are playing their part and saving water. We thank those residents for partnering with the Metro and taking the situation seriously. Sadly, though, many residents continue to use water as if we are in a normal situation, this financial incentive to save water will hopefully encourage high water users to play their part.
Together we can beat a Dry July, work with us to avert a disaster!
Part C of the charges and tariffs:
Residential
0.3kl/p =R19,63
0.3kl/p-0.5kl/d R30,00
0.5-0.8kl/d R60,00
0.8-1.0kl/d R100,00
1.0-1.6kl/d R150,00
1.6kl/d R300,00
ATTP
R19.64
Institutional and government departments:
R22,45
Commercial/ industrial:
R25,00
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