Rand Water on Thursday warned of “extremely” high water consumption by municipalities, urging users to use water sparingly.
Madibeng Municipality, serviced by Rand Water, is consuming 11-million litres, which is above its target of eight-million litres a day.
Municipalities have been allocated specific quotas for the water produced by Rand Water systems in line with limits set by the Department of Water and Sanitation.
According to Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo, Rand Water continues to pump and supply at maximum capacity, but the percentage of total reservoir capacity has been declining significantly since August 22, owing to high water withdrawals by municipalities. “Madibeng Local Municipality is consuming above the licensed targeted quota, putting the system’s sustainability at risk.”
Rand Water sells bulk wholesale water to all municipalities in Gauteng and parts of Mpumalanga, the Free State and the North West. Maroo said that Gauteng municipalities account for the highest volumes.
About 77% of water produced is supplied to the cities of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, in Gauteng.
Rand Water warned that this upward trend in consumption is placing the sustainability of the system at risk.