Emalahleni Local Municipality’s Witbank dam is currently reported at 97% on average due to the plentiful rainfalls this season but still water is a challenge as residents go days and weeks without water.
The municipality is urging the community to use water sparingly. Emalahleni municipal spokesperson, Lebohang Mofokeng said that as the water service provider, the municipality has a responsibility to provide basic water services efficiently, affordable, economical and in a sustainable manner to its consumers. “The municipality needs the community to play a role in ensuring that water is conserved and used sparingly to protect this scarce resource,” said Mofokeng.
“Water conservation is a practice in which people, companies and government attempt to reduce their water usage. Only 2% of the earth fresh water is locked in-ice caps, while 97.5% is salt water. The Witbank Dam is currently sitting on an average level of 97% due to the plentiful rainfalls this season. However, the municipality is restricted by the Water Use Licence to obstruct a certain limit of raw water volumes daily, it is therefore very crucial to conserve the limited purified water to save Emalahleni not to face drought as we approach the dry season,” he added.
The Municipality indicated the ways and tips to conserve water:
- Contain the rain water as it rains through rooftop water harvesting.
- Use the rain water, re-used water from bath and sinks to irrigate lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimise evaporation.
- Wash your fruits and vegetables in a bowl instead of running water from the tap
- And take a shower instead of bath.
A resident of Hlalanikahle, Sonto Khoza said, “We are aware that we must save water but where is that water that we must save?” Cynthia Malope from Empumelelweni said, “We need clean water and the water supplied in tankers are dirty and making us sick,”
