As part of the World Water Week which started on 24 August, KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has called on residents across the province to continue to use water wisely. The province’s water supply remains at low levels as a result of the drought that continues to affect large parts of KZN.
“In honour the World Water Week, which is an important moment when we reflect on the importance of water and how we utilise it. We are appealing to all residents in the province to continue to use water sparingly. Water is a scarce resource and conserving water is a responsibility that we all share,” said Hlomuka.
Currently, in the province the average water levels in dams are 56.7%, which indicates that KZN is in a critical but stable place in terms of its water provision. Last week the uThukela district implemented water restrictions following the critical drop in water levels in the Klip River water catchment area. This means that the town of Ladysmith and surrounding areas will be undergoing water rationing.
Hlomuka has also appealed to residents to ensure that children are educated about the importance of saving water. He has also appealed to communities to report all water leaks to the relevant authorities. “Our province continues to lose millions of litres of water a day as a result of leaks. In the fight to preserve water, every drop counts. It is our responsibility to report water leaks,” added Hlomuka.