Oudtshoorn, August 28, 2018 – Following Council declaration of the Greater Oudtshoorn as a state of disaster due to water crisis early this month, tighter water restrictions have ensued with a moratorium placed on irrigation of all municipal properties.
“We are suspending irrigation of sport fields, parks and road islands with potable water with immediate effect,” said the Municipal Manager, Allen Paulse this week.
“The Municipality has been using grey water to irrigate the Golf course, Morestêr High School, Bridgton Sport Grounds, Bongolethu Primary School, Park parallel to N12 and Bridgton Primary School. The public may have access to grey water from a petcock situated at St. Savior Street as well as at the Oudtshoorn Waster Water Works,” Paulse added.
“These water restrictions also apply to the maintenance of gravel roads and streets, where large amounts of drinkable water is normally used has also been suspended till further notice. We will now make opportunity on rainy days to resume maintenance of gravel roads and streets. However, areas where public will not be adversely affected, dry road scrapping may be used when necessary.”
Council has in the recent weeks been hard at work behind the scenes, putting plans in place to avert the water crisis worsening. Discussions of all policies that are related to the water crisis, such as the drought management policy, risk management plan and communication strategy are underway.
The Municipality has also in between been presented with Cape City’s Water Disaster Plan. Richard Bosman, the Executive Director for Safety and Security, who has also been the Chairperson of the Disaster Coordinating Team shared the best practices Cape Town has had during its battle with the drought in the recent months.
The Water Crisis Committee that was elected last week in a Special Council meeting is set to meet on Wednesday, 29 August 2018 to pave a way forward on how the water crisis will be tackled. The committee comprises councillors, senior management, and officials from the Municipal Water Department, Risk Management, Communication, Supply Chain Management and Capital Projects.
