The City of Cape Town is set to impose stricter water restrictions on residents, effective from New Year’s Day, but has stopped short of moving to level-three restrictions, which would have seen the use of hosepipes for watering gardens banned completely.
From January 1, in terms of a statement issued by city authorities on Wednesday, the use of hosepipes for watering is restricted to 30 minutes a week on Mondays for properties with even street numbers, and 30 minutes on Tuesdays for properties with uneven street numbers.
Alternatively, gardeners may opt to use buckets or watering cans for up to one hour on Mondays and Thursdays.
As with the previous restrictions, all watering is prohibited between 10am and 6pm on these days.
The city has also warned those who fail to stick to the new watering times of ”more vigorous law enforcement … to ensure maximum compliance with the additional regulations and to institute punitive measures for non-compliance”.
Residents caught contravening the revised regulations face the same penalty: a fine not exceeding R10 000, or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or both.
The city said stricter restrictions are necessary because residents are not achieving the set water-saving targets.
”The current water restrictions, which have been implemented since October 1, are being intensified to ensure that the targeted water saving of 20% (66-million kilolitres) by the end of September 2005 is achieved.
”It is anticipated that only 60% of the savings target for December 2004 will be achieved. If this trend continues, the city will achieve 12% of the targeted water saving, instead of 20%.
”As a result, more severe water restrictions may have to be implemented during the summer of 2006/07,” it said.
The additional restrictions will not affect the current water and sanitation tariffs.
”The City of Cape Town will lead by example in adhering to these restrictions. All watering of council parks, open spaces, lawns and gardens with potable water will cease.
”Where borehole water and treated effluent is consumed for watering by council, visible signage indicating the water source should be displayed.”
Residents using borehole water to irrigate their garden should display the official signage available from the city’s water services department.
The new ”revised level-two water restrictions” also permit the use of drip irrigation systems for up to 20 minutes on Mondays for properties with even street numbers, and up to 20 minutes on Tuesdays for properties with uneven numbers.
”The use of hosepipes for washing or rinsing motor vehicles, motorcycles or motor boats, movable or immovable structures, paths, pavements and paved areas (regardless of the nature of the material used for paving such areas), is prohibited.”
The restrictions do not apply to, among others, plant nurseries, cricket pitches, bowling greens, golf greens, croquet lawns, artificial turf fields and major sports stadiums, and where special exemption has been granted by the city.
”The city will continue to closely monitor the accumulated water saving and intervene where required to ensure that the targeted water savings are achieved.
”Residents are encouraged to report contraventions, burst mains and leaks to the 24-hour Water Services Call Centre, on 0860 103 054,” the statement said. — Sapa