Limiting water use in the Orange and Vaal River Systems
Due to insufficient rains and to avoid a water shortage in the Vaal and Orange River System it has, therefore, become necessary to limit the abstraction of water for urban and irrigation purposes in the catchment areas of the dams supplying the Vaal River and Orange River systems.
The Department of Water and Sanitation has therefore, issued the necessary gazette to reduce such abstraction for the purposes of domestic and irrigation uses (Notice 910 in Gazette 40203).
The Department of Water and Sanitation hereby limits the abstraction of water from the Orange River system by all users by ten percent (10%) for domestic and industrial water use and a further fifteen percent (15%) restriction on water used for irrigation purposes by water users of the Orange River system.
In the Vaal River System, the limit includes 15% of curtailment on urban water use and 20% of curtailment on 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 Minister of Water and Sanitation may, according to the National Water Act of 1998 in terms of Item 6(1) of schedule 3, limit the use of water if the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that a water shortage exists within a certain area.
For more information contact:
Amogelang Moholoeng
Cell: 082 653 1682
