The Department of Water and Sanitation has announced a limit has been placed on the usage of water from the Orange and Vaal river systems.

According to the the department,  insufficient rains and the need to avoid a water shortage in the rivers has made the decision necessary. Therefore, the abstraction of water for urban and irrigation purposes in the catchment areas [the area from which rainfall flows into a river, lake, or reservoir] has to be limited.

Abstraction from the Orange River system by all users has been limited by 10% for domestic and industrial water use and a further 15% restriction on water used for irrigation purposes.

Limitations for water from the Vaal River system stand at 15% less for urban water use and 20%for irrigation water use.

“In exercising these powers, the DWS has given preference to the maintenance of the reserves, has treated all water users on a basis that is fair and reasonable, and considered the extent of the water shortages and its likely effects on water users,” the department said.

The National Water Act of 1998 in terms of Item 6(1) of schedule 3 allows the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, to  limit the use of water if she believes that, on reasonable grounds, a water shortage exists within a certain area.

The water limitation has been noted in the government gazette.

[Source – Department of Water and Sanitation, image –  CC CR Rodger via Flickr]