Agriculture
Water department says drought's back not yet broken─── SABRINA DEAN 14:48 Tue, 30 Aug 2016
Bloemfontein - The Department of Water and Sanitation says the back of the drought has not been broken yet and is urging all water users to continue to use water responsibly.
The Department published a notice in the Government Gazette earlier this month, announcing the implementation of water restrictions along the integrated Vaal River system. Limits include a 15% restriction on water for urban use and a 20% restriction on irrigation water.
Spokesperson Sputnik Ratau says no announcement has yet been made on restrictions for irrigation out of the Orange River System. He says they continue to monitor all 212 dams and water catchment areas across the country.
Ratau says at present, the country’s dam level average is at just over 53%. This is significantly lower than at the same time last year when levels were around 72%.
He says water users across the country need to intensify adherence to restrictions, also to prevent a spike in usage in early spring.
The notice published in the Government Gazette on 12 August can be downloaded here:
20160830 WaterbeperkingsGazetteVaalDamAug2016.pdf
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