eThekwini municipality explains water curtailment

The water woes in the eThekwini Municipality have been trickling on. Residents are afraid the municipality will continue with water cuts as it has been doing over the years.

However, the municipality said on Friday, October 4, that they will be introducing water curtailment, not water cuts.

The eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba announced water curtailment plans effective from October 10.

Water curtailment is not water shedding where there is a schedule for water cuts at certain times. However, the purpose of the water curtailment is to avoid water shedding by bringing down the total volume used in a controlled manner, said eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana.

“The curtailment will be implemented for a period of 12 months. The city urges residents to use water sparingly to assist in reducing the high consumption,” she said.

“Some of the contributing factors to the high-water usage include rapid urbanisation, illegal connections, and aging infrastructure which causes water leaks.”

To ensure that residents are not adversely affected, the city will be implementing the following interventions:

• Installation of restrictors in water meters to all consumers

• Pressure reduction in the reticulation network

• Metering all unmetered consumers

• Improve turnaround time to repair leaks and burst pipes through the deployment of ward-based plumbers

• Community education around water conservation

• Disconnection of illegal water connections

• Water rationing where demand is too high or exceeds available supply

The average water consumption in eThekwini is high, as it is between 270 and 298 litres per capita (person), per day compared to the international average of 173, said Ms Sisilana.

She added that water curtailment is critical in ensuring long-term water security and lowering overall demand. During this process, the city’s teams will be monitoring the system and managing excessive demand.

She said there is no water cuts schedule that will be developed for the public. The restrictors that will be installed will control and minimise the flow of water, Ms Sisilana said.

“This will help reduce wastage on an individual’s properties. It also has another important benefit because when the flow is restricted, the pressures in the system are better managed and maintained. When the entire system pressure is reduced, it also reduces leaks and burst pipes in the pipe network,” Ms Sisilana said.