MyPE

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Say Goodbye to Punitive Water Tarrifs and Hello to Decreased Water Restrictions

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At a press conference today, Executive Mayor Zanoxolo Wayile announced that on Wednesday afternoon that the relevant Department of Water Affairs had signed the Government Gazette notice lifting the restrictions on extraction from the supply dams for the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and declared as follows:

  • Punitive water tariffs will be lifted with effect from 1 August 2011
  • Decreased water usage restrictions will take effect from Monday, 25 July 2011.

The following revised restrictions on the use of water will come into effect from 25 July 2011:

  • The use of hosepipes, sprinklers, sprinkler and drip systems to water gardens, grassed areas, flower beds, racecourses, sports fields, bowling greens, golf greens and fairways, croquet lawns, turf wickets, ploughing fields and the like will NOT be permitted between the hours of 10h00 and 16h00
  • The washing down of driveways, paved areas, roofs and buildings will only be permitted if a pressurised sprayer is used.
  • The washing down of cars, boats and caravans will only be permitted if a pressurised sprayer is used.
  • In terms of Section 73 of the Water Services Bylaw; “Any commercial vehicle washing facility must be constructed and operated in such a manner that 60 per cent of the potable water used by such facility is recycled for reuse in the facilty, provided that commercial vehicle washing facilities that are in operation when this by-law is promulgated (14 May 2010) will be granted a period of 3 years from said date of promulgation to comply with this by-law.

The following water tariffs will apply as from 1 August 2011:

Residential:

  • Up to 0.8 kl/d: R6.60 (per kl) – was R8.27 (per kl)
  • Next 0.8 kl/d: R8.27 (per kl) – was R16.73 (per kl)
  • Next 1 kl/d: R9.82 (per kl) – was R33.45 (per kl)
  • Additional Consumption: R16.73 (per kl) – was R11.50 (per kl)

Commercial:

  • R6.60 per kilolitre

Industrial:

  • R6.60 per kilolitre

Barry Martin stated that the combined storage capacity of the Churchill and Impofu dams, on the Kromme river, needs to be at least 85% for the water restrictions to be lifted. This combined value presently stands at 78.4%

Looking at the daily water consumption graphs it appears that the two lowest months for daily consumption where June 2010 and June 2011 (below 230 megalitres per month) with the highest daily consumption figures being 300 megalitres a day in January 2009. It is surmised that the June 2010 figure is low as a result of extensive advertising and awareness campaigns ahead of the World Cup.

Editors Notes: It feels so good to be right about my assumption that the lifting of the water restrictions would be based on the ‘health’ of the Churchil and Impofu dams going forward. See: We will Know Today if the Water Restrictions WILL be Lifted.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.