By: Zethu Gweva
After inspecting the Briddledrift Dam (Kwa Grinika) Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Executive Mayor Xola Pakati declared Buffalo City Metro as a drought disaster area.
According to Pakati, the purpose of the inspection was to assess the declining dam water levels of Briddledrift Dam which is one of the biggest dams in the city that supplies water to Mdantsane and East London residents.
“The drought situation is catching up with BCM. We are very worried about the low levels of this dam and other dams that are under the control of Amatola Water. The dams are below 50% which is very worrisome and if we do not get rain between now and December we are likely to reach a crisis point,” he said.
The low dam levels and inadequate rainfall in BCM forced the municipality to implement stage two water restrictions and punitive tariff 1(a) that require consumers to cut current water consumption by 20% from November 01, 2019.
The Mayor is calling on residents to adhere to the restrictions written below:
- No sprinklers and watering of lawns.
- Water must not be used to clean paved areas unless it is necessary.
- Swimming pools and water features may not be topped up with any water unless is permitted.
- Use a bucket to wash vehicles. A commercial car wash can be used only if it recycles water.
- No washing of windows and buildings unless necessary.
- Construction activities, unless impractical, water may only be used by means of a hose fitted with a flow cut-off device. Wherever practicable non-potable water should be used.
- Washing and rinsing of clothes under an open public standpipe is prohibited.
Appealing to the BCM residents, Pakati said people should adhere to all the water restrictions put forward by the municipality to save water.