WATER CRISIS & RESTRICTION NOTICE
On October 24 the honourable Premier of the Province of the Eastern Cape, acting in terms of section 41(1) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002), declared a Provincial state of disaster in the Province of the Eastern Cape due to the drought which has affected the Province.
Ndlambe has been heavily affected by drought since 2018 and all the water supply source levels are very low, especially in Port Alfred and Alexandria. Therefore, Ndlambe Municipality would like to remind all the community members and holidaymakers that the Municipality imposed water restrictions in terms of Section 4 of the Water Services Act 108 (No 108 of 1997), these restrictions are still standing and we, therefore, request our communities to familiarise themselves with the prohibited water activities stipulated on these restrictions.
It must be noted that there are areas like Alexandria, Port Alfred and Bathurst where the situation is so critical that the source levels are already below 40%. The communities are urged to use water wisely to avoid a day zero situation which would be a crisis during the festive season. The municipality has applied for drought funding to implement possible alternatives to assist in this situation.
We would like also to inform the community that should the current situation worsen to about 20% on levels; the Municipality will have to shut off the water supply for a certain period in the day in order to lengthen the supply period. We, therefore, urge our residents to use water sparingly and encourage households to invest in rainwater storage tanks as this could assist with the current situation.
In terms of Section 4 of the Water Services Act 108 (No 108 of 1997) the following will be prohibited immediately.
- The use of water obtained from the Municipality’s water supply system for:
- Watering gardens, lawns, grassed areas, flower beds, sport fields, bowling greens, golf greens and fairways, croquet lawns, turf wickets, ploughing fields and the like;
- Topping up or filling fountains, ornamental ponds and the like;
- Filling swimming and paddling pools;
- Washing paved areas, walls, roofs, building and similar structures.
- The use or operation of:
- Hosepipes,
- Sprinklers, sprinkler and drip systems;
- Automatic swimming pool filters
- Automatic urinal flushing systems
- The connection of a hosepipe or any form of irrigation system to a tap supplying water from the Municipality’s water supply system unless for the purposes permitted in terms of this notice.
Exemptions
- The use of reclaimed water or water obtained from sources other than the Municipality’s water supply system.
- The use or operation of a hose pipe or sprinkler systems for firefighting.
- Watering of plants, trees and shrubs in commercial, state and municipal nurseries.
- The prohibitions contained in this notice shall not apply in any case specifically exempted, in writing, by the Director: Infrastructural Development.
NB: MORE STRINGENT MEASURES MAY BE IMPOSED TO EACH AREA DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION. RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO ADHERE TO THESE WATER RESTRICTIONS IN ORDER TO AVOID BYLAW FINES.
PLEASE USE WATER SPARINGLY
NOTICE NUMBER: 269/2019 ROLLY DUMEZWENI
11 November 2019 MUNICIPAL MANAGER
PLEASE USE WATER SPARINGLY
