Procurement News Notice |
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| PNN | 7031 |
| Work Detail | New water restriction tariffs in Joburg, which target domestic users who use more than 20 000 litres a month, could mean bad news for swimming pool owners. Anthony Still, the member of the mayoral committee for environment and infrastructure services, announced the new tariffs at a media briefing on Monday. The tariffs became effective this month. Level 2 water restrictions, which were implemented in November and are still in place, mean that users are prohibited from filling their pools using municipal water. Municipal swimming pools, most of which reopened on September 1 last week, are exempt from the restrictions. Jarrod Len from Crystal Clear Pools said that letting water levels drop too low would damage a pool. "If you have a marbelite swimming pool and the water level drops below the mosaics, the marbelite plaster will be exposed, causing cracks," he explained. "If kept exposed to the elements for a long period of time, the cracks will expand, causing your pool shell to leak through to the cement foundation." When this happened, pools would have to be drained, chopped and re-covered with marbelite. Len added there had not been an increase in damaged pools since the water restrictions were implemented. "In our experience, we find people don't allow their pools to drop that low." But Still said Johannesburg Water would be taking a hardline approach to offenders. Not only had the tariffs increased, but the Joburg metro police department would be roped in to enforce the law. Offenders would be subject to fines of R1 000 to R1 500 per transgression. Still said the city had to reduce its water consumption by 15 percent in urban areas and 20 percent in rural areas, with immediate effect. This was in accordance with a decision by the national Department of Water and Sanitation to limit the use of water from the Vaal River system, in terms of the National Water Act. The decision was published in the Government Gazette on August 12. Still said the reason for the tightened measures was that water levels in the integrated Vaal River system had dropped below the threshold level of 60 percent and currently stood at 54 percent. The Vaal Dam was only 35 percent full. Other restrictions include that no watering or irrigation of gardens is permitted between 6am and 6pm; only hand-held hosepipes, buckets or watering cans can be used outside of these hours; no sprinklers can be used at any hour; and no washing of cars or cleaning of paved areas and driveways using hosepipes is permitted. "Over 40 percent of water use in Gauteng is for garden use. If households comply with the restrictions, the 15 percent target will easily be achieved," said Still, urging users to take the restrictions seriously. "If that doesn't work and we don't get action from that, we will ramp the level 2 restrictions up to level 3," he warned. Save this precious resource GABI FALANGA THE STAR has compiled some easy ideas on how to save water in and around the home: Convert to a dual-flush toilet. Install water-saving showerheads. Repair leaking and dripping taps. Turn the water off when brushing your teeth - this can save 6 litres of water a minute. Place a brick or other displacement device in the toilet cistern to reduce the volume of water used during each flush. Flush toilets only when necessary. Take shorter showers and switch off the tap while soaping your body and hair. Showers can use between 6 litres and 45 litres a minute. Put a bucket in the shower to capture the water, which can be used in the garden. Use full loads in your washing machine and dishwasher. Buy water-efficient devices. Save electricity. A substantial amount of water is used to generate power. Monitor water meters for high consumption and to detect possible water leaks. Collect rainwater using tanks or by putting buckets under drainpipes to use for watering the garden, washing cars, filling swimming pools and in toilets. Water the garden with a watering can rather than a hosepipe. Mulch your plants with bark chippings, heavy compost or straw to reduce evaporation. Plant only indigenous plants. Water plants only outside daylight hours. Cover the swimming pool. Use a broom instead of a hosepipe when cleaning driveways, pavements or patios. |
| Country | Zambia , Eastern Africa |
| Industry | Water & Sanitation |
| Entry Date | 15 Oct 2016 |
| Source | http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/joburg-water-curbs-set-to-hurt-pool-owners-2065020 |
