Department encourages residents to use water sparingly
JOBURG – The department aims to reduce wastage of water by 15 per cent.
According to the Department of Water and Sanitation, the water level in Gauteng is sitting at 79 per cent currently.
Residents are therefore encouraged to use water sparingly.
The department briefed the media in Joburg at the Reef Hotel in Marshalltown on 8 December at a media networking session.
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Addressing the media was Sibusiso Mthembu, Gauteng regional head official, who said water levels have improved significantly since last year.
According to Mthembu, the water level at the Vaal River System, which supplies Gauteng with water, is at 79 per cent compared to 37 per cent this time last year.
“The water level in the province is sitting quite good for now but we still encourage people to utilise water sparingly,” said Mthembu.
“We want to reduce wastage of water by 15 per cent and this is our target as a department. We have a non-revenue water of 35.7 percent and this is very depressing.”
Mthembu said the department is owed R10 billion nationally and Gauteng owes about R1.5 billion which is a significant amount.
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He said since the call by the department’s Minister Nomvula Mokonyane to shut down water supply in municipalities to force them to pay, they have started to see some results.
“Rand Water has also started to close water in some municipalities like Emfuleni Municipality and eight more municipalities have come forward wanting to pay.
“We have initiated a new programme to start collecting money owed to the department by municipalities.”
