Government’s call for restraint in Gauteng’s water usage has its challenges
Despite declining levels on the Integrated Vaal River system, the exhortation could send wrong signal to business
The water & sanitation department has urged Gauteng water users to actively cut back their water use as dam levels in the integrated Vaal River system (IVRS) dip below their levels of a year ago. The 14 dams in the IVRS provide water to households and industries in Gauteng, including the economically critical Eskom and Sasol, which rely heavily on the system. The average dam level is at 69.7%, from 73.2% at the same time in 2018. The system is also under strain from sewage pollution downstream of failing municipal treatment plant. This poses a risk to communities using untreated water directly from the rivers in the system, and to farmers watering stock and irrigating directly from the Vaal River. Department spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said soaring temperatures in Gauteng are directly linked to abnormally high demand for water. Recent temperature recordings and forecasts by the SA Weather Service show highs consistently more than 30°C over the IVRS catchment area. This condition is b...
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