SOL PLAATJE MUNICIPALITY INTRODUCE STAGE 5 WATER RESTRICTIONS AND LONGER NIGHTLY WATER SHUTDOWNS
NIGHTLY WATER SHUTDOWNS
Water supply to Kimberley households and businesses will be switched off at 6pm every evening until 4am in the morning. This will be maintained until the situation has normalised and reservoir levels have stabilised at about 15 feet.
Water will also be switched off from noon (12pm) on Saturdays until noon (12pm) on Sundays every weekend.
STAGE WATER RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY
- Non-essential water use is prohibited at all times.
- Only essential domestic, industrial and commercial use are permitted and only under strict monitoring.
- Watering essential to keep plants alive may be applied using a bucket or watering can only.
NOTE: Historically the actually times water is cut and restored can be inconsistent and it also take some time for pressure to built in certain neighborhoods.
BACKGROUND
The inability of Sol Plaatje Municipality to pump enough water from Riverton to supply the water demand of the City of Kimberley caused the dam levels at Newton Reservoir to fall to dangerous levels threatening the water supply to higher lying areas. The water restrictions is an attempt to raise water levels at Newton reservoir after nightly water shutdows from 8pm to 4am which was introduced in October 2018 has proved to be inadequate.
In the media release it is stated that Reservoir levels are considered as Green when between 13 and 16 feet, Amber when between 9 to 12 feet, and Red when at 8 feet and lower.
When the water level reach 8 feet the water supply to higher areas fail and as it lowers more and more areas will go dry.
The current water levels of the dams was omitted from the press release.
STAGE WATER RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY
No non-essential water use is permitted at any time during the restriction.
Only essential domestic, industrial and commercial use may be permitted under strict monitoring.
Watering essential to keep plants alive may be applied using a bucket or watering can ONLY.
NOTE: Initially the nighty shutdowns was officially introduced on 9 October 2018 then suspended for a while before being re-introduced.
Full media statement issued by Sol Plaatje Municipality below.
LEVEL 5 WATER RESTRICTIONS AND NIGHTLY WATER SHUTDOWN MEDIA STATEMENT FROM SOL PLAATJE MUNICIPALITY
Shortlink for this post: https://www.kimberley.org.za/?p=22447
