GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality asks all residents, businesses (including construction companies), schools and sports facilities to carefully review their use of drinking water and to cut back on wastage.

This follows the implementation of water restrictions on 25 January, when the municipality embarked on a water saving programme to ensure that residents will have continuous access to drinking water.

The finance directorate has issued 11 500 SMSes to high water users warning them of their excessive consumption and alerting them to the water restrictions. 

To date a total of 1 500 follow-up phone calls have been made to residential consumers to raise awareness of their excess water consumption (more than 15kl per household) and to ensure that no leaks are causing the excess usage. 

The phone calls have identified seven water leaks and two water meter issues.

What happened?

Reasons given for high water consumption have included: guests over the festive season, more than four people living in a house, more than one household on the property, irrigation systems in place and possible estimate readings. 

The municipality encourages residents to submit their water meter readings online to meterreadings@george.gov.za along with the accountholder's name, contact details and GRG account number. 

Enquiries may be e-mailed to accounts@george.gov.za.

Industrial high water users have been contacted to request a reduction of their water consumption. Where there may be a leak on the municipal side, the civil engineering teams have attended to do repairs and/or replace water meters that are faulty. 

There is a backlog in the order and supply of water meters, but complaints are addressed as stock is received.

Contraventions

Contraventions of the water restrictions can be reported on 0800 424 477 and will be followed up by George municipal law enforcement.

Any person who contravenes these restrictions is guilty of an offence and is, upon conviction, liable to a fine as published in the annual tariffs list, or six months imprisonment.

In terms of the by-law, any person may apply in writing for exemption from any notice published in terms of the by-law, and the council may grant an exemption and impose conditions in respect of such an application. The Directorate of Civil Engineering Services is authorised approve exemptions.

Application forms for exemption can be obtained from the civil engineering services office in the Old Town Hall, on the corner of Market and York streets. Alternatively, applicants can contact Ms G van Niekerk on 044 801 9354 / gvanniekerk@george.gov.za to request that a copy of the application form be e-mailed to them. A written exemption shall be provided where approved.

Report all water leaks to the civil engineering department on 044 801 9262/66.

Immediate water restriction measures

• The mechanical or automatic irrigation/watering devices or sprinkler systems for gardens is prohibited.

• Gardens may be watered with a handheld hose from 1 September to 30 May during the following period only: 19:00 to 21:00. We currently fall in this bracket.

• Gardens may be watered with a handheld hose from 1 June to 31 August during the following period only: 17:00 to 19:00: Mondays and Thursdays for even-numbered households ONLY; Tuesdays and Fridays for uneven numbered households ONLY.

• The irrigation or watering of all sports fields is prohibited. Exemption from restrictions in the following instances only: golf course greens, bowling greens, and cricket pitches which may only be watered between 19:00 and 21:00.

• The washing of vehicles with a garden hose is prohibited, except by a commercial enterprise whose business it is to wash cars.

• The cleaning of ANY area by mechanical means or hosepipe using water is prohibited; the use of a bucket is however permitted.

• The filling of swimming pools is prohibited.

• Where own water from a borehole or reservoir is used, the appropriate notice shall be displayed on the premises, e.g. "OWN WATER".

You will need to wash your car with water from a bucket if washing it at home. Photos: Pixabay

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