Agriculture
Farmers also affected by water restrictions─── SABRINA DEAN 07:44 Wed, 29 Jul 2015
Bloemfontein - Farmers in and around the Mangaung area are being asked to reduce water used for irrigation purposes by 50%.
This as the Mangaung Metro Municipality implements water restrictions in line with the water use limit notice published by the national water department in the Government Gazette in March last year. The notice imposes limitations on domestic, industrial and agricultural water use.
Spokesperson for the national department of water and sanitation, Sputnik Ratau, says the measures are not intended as punishment but are rather aimed at ensuring there is sufficient water available for everyone later in the year:
'Sputnik Ratau - reasons'
The notice states that there is a 50% restriction on the use of water for irrigation purposes in the Modder River subcatchment upstream of Maselspoort. Further limitations are in place along the main stem of the Modder River.
These include that no water may be taken from the Modder River for any agricultural purpose between 6pm on a Friday until 6am the following Monday; and alternate water use days for farmers on opposite banks of the river.
Ratau says other areas of the country, including KZN, North West and parts of the Northern Cape, are also hard hit by the drought. He is urging everyone to use water sparingly, saying the consequences of ignoring restrictions could be dire:
'Sputnik Ratau - consequences'
Sabrina Dean/OFM News
'Sputnik Ratau - reasons':
'Sputnik Ratau - consequences':