Nelson Mandela Bay Water users urged to reduce water consumption heading into weekend
On Wednesday, 12 July, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will take its efforts at galvanising public awareness to the streets of the Bay. The launch of the blitz will see metro teams out in morning peak traffic, handing out much-needed water-saving information and equipping citizens on the approaches to push back day zero.
“The initiative is aimed at interacting with citizens from all walks of life, raising awareness and sharing useful tips on water saving. The effort is also designed to get the public engaged and working together with all role players to drive water consumption down,” says the co-ordinator of the Joint Operations Centre on Water Crisis, Luvuyo Bangazi.
Reports indicate that the Bay water situation is stabilising but is far from over. “The stability is due to several factors, which include slight improvements in dam levels to just under 15% capacity, and up to 2.4% usable water in the dams. The second contributor is a slight drop in consumption from 293ml/d a little more than 100 days ago, to 240ml/d two weeks ago, with a downward trend observed in that period,” according to NMBM Senior Director of Water and Sanitation, Barry Martin.
Consumption on Tuesday morning was recorded at 264ml/d as a rolling seven-day average.
“Third is the attack on water leaks, with the metro eradicating more than 3 500 water leaks in 15 days since 20 June. That dent on leaks has had a significant impact in reducing water losses and therefore consumption. The fourth element that has brought reasonable stability is the commissioning of the Kwanobuhle multidirectional water pump station on 1 July. That plant is now sharing Nooitgedacht water with the southern and western suburbs of the Bay, areas that only received supply from the local dams,” concluded Martin.
Members of the public are encouraged to flash their lights or hoot when coming across the Bay water savers out on the street corners of the Bay at the following intersections:
The JOC advises users to visit www.baywatersavers.co.za to find useful water-saving tips, or alternatively WhatsApp water to 064 744 7721 for an interactive experience. Both the website and the WhatsApp number are zero rated. Reporting leaks can still be done by calling 0800 20 50 50 or e-mailing [email protected].
Water users are urged to only use 50 litres per person per day, or below 9kl per household.
To join the conversation, water users are encouraged to join the Bay Water Savers Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/BayWaterSavers.