PORT ELIZABETH - WATER RESTRICTIONS IN NELSON MANDELA BAY METRO IMPOSED FROM THURSDAY

Residents and businesses in Nelson Mandela Bay have been requested to use less water as the city tries to cut its usage by at least 15%.

Water restrictions have been imposed and from Thursday residents may not use hose-pipes to water gardens or wash their cars. If in two months there's no change, higher tariffs will be imposed on heavy users.

Christine Jafta has been living in Missionvale for the past 20 years. She has no running water in her house and relies on a nearby
communal tap.

"I don't understand how these water restrictions are going to help, because we don't even have water in our houses. The municipality should rather be focussing on fixing the many leaking pipes in this area, we have water running down our streets daily and going to waste," says Jafta.

More than 30% of the city's treated water goes to waste.

The municipality says it is critical to fix the leaks.

“The solutions are not short term and they are multi-pronged. We expect to release full details of our strategy within the next few weeks. Already advertisements for an additional 10 plumbers have been advertised," says Head of Infrastructure and Engineering, Annette Lovemore.

Organised business says the big water users will feel the pinch.

Chairperson of the Business Chamber, Kevin Hustler says, "The water restrictions will effect on big business, in particular those who use water mostly for their business... like Coke and milk producing corporations. But if you look back you will see that many companies are already using alternative measures in their companies to save water, and we will continue to urge business to use alternative ways to save water."

The municipality currently exceeds its daily allocation from its supply dams by 60 million litres.

The next two years are crucial as the city waits for the completion of the Nooitgedacht supply scheme that will increase the water supply to the Metro to 210 mega litres per day.

VIA - sabc.co.za