The City of Tshwane on Tuesday imposed a Stage 2 water restriction that includes a ban on the use of hosepipes to wash cars, clean driveways or patios, and fill up swimming pools.
The move follows a notification by Rand Water, the water utility, informing the City of Tshwane, City of Johannesburg, and City of Ekurhuleni about the implementation of Stage 2 water restrictions.
The water utility indicated that it had noted over the last 2 weeks that water consumption had increased significantly resulting in a decline in their overall reservoir storage capacity from 52% to 38%.
Rand Water said as a result of its depleted water storage capacity, it had to implement, with immediate effect, Stage 2 (30%) restrictions on several high-consuming customer meters within each municipality.
Rand Water further indicated that the restrictions were to ensure that their overall reservoir storage capacity was restored to 60%.
On Tuesday, the City of Tshwane said it must comply with Rand Water’s directive by implementing Stage 2 water restrictions to prevent the water utility and municipality’s bulk water supply systems from collapsing and running dry.
The City said with immediate effect it was imposing Stage 2 water restrictions entailing prohibition of the following:
• No irrigation or watering of gardens with a hosepipe or irrigation systems.
• No use of a hosepipe to clean driveways or patios.
• No washing of vehicles with a hosepipe.
• No filling or top-up of swimming pools or water features.
Stage 2 water restrictions also bring into effect the implementation of Level 2 water tariffs, as per the City’s approved 2022/23 financial year water tariffs.
“In order to avoid reservoirs from running dry, resulting in water shortages and subsequent water supply interruptions, the City of Tshwane urges all residents to assist by decreasing their water consumption and continue to use water sparingly,” said the City of Tshwane.
“The city wishes to thank residents for their understanding and efforts to use water sparingly so that reservoirs do not run dry resulting in water shortages and water supply interruptions.”
The restrictions coincide with a heat wave that has seen temperatures in Pretoria and Johannesburg soar to 38 °C and 35 °C respectively.
