Question to the Minister of Water and Sanitation - NW3513

18 December 2018 - NW3513

Wessels, Mr W to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation

(1)What are the current water levels of the dams that supply water to the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality; (2) how many litres of water were lost during the 2017-18 financial year in the specified municipality as a result of leakages, (3) whether he has found that the levels at the specified dams justify changing the current water restriction level; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) whether he will make a statement on the matter?

Source
Link

Reply:

(1) Refer to Annexure A for the current water levels of the dams that supply water to the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.

(2) The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality has lost 13 334 248 000 litres of water during the 2017-18 financial year as a result of leakages.

(3) The Caledon-Modder Water Supply System that supply water for the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality experienced significant drought conditions from around 2015 until 2017 seasons. Although the situation has improved a bit, drought conditions are still lingering into this 2018 season. Hence, some good inflows came into the dams of the system, easing the critical state of total dams’ storage from about 44% in May 2017 to about 57% in May 2018. May is the decision month for the system. Therefore, following the 2018 Annual Operating Analysis, the new system storage level justified changing water restrictions from 20% to 15% level.

(4) The Department held a Stakeholders Operation Forum (SOF) meeting, which involve water users from the system, in Mangaung on 4 October 2018, where results of the annual operation analysis, including the new restriction levels, were presented. Publication of a gazette notice for the new restriction levels is being processed.

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