The Makana Municipality’s Ordinary Council sitting held on 9 September 2009 resolved to impose water restriction in the Municipal area. This is in line with the Supreme Court Order of the 29 January 1980, National Water Act (Act 36 of 1980), Chapter 4 numbers 26(1) (a), (g); 29(1) (i) and Chapter 5(37)92), 39(3) and Makana Municipality Water Supply and Sanitation Services By-Laws.

Background:

Grahamstown draws water from Settlers Dam as well as do the properties riparian to the catchment system. When the volume of raw water stored in the system (comprising the Jamieson, Milner, Howisonspoort and Settlers Dams is less than 40% the total consumption of Makana Municipality for the previous twelve months, the Council has to impose Water Restrictions of prohibiting the use of garden hoses and the washing of cars with water from the Municipal supply.

In addition, certain properties riparian to the catchment system will be restricted on the volumes of water that they may extract. It must also be noted that the complimenting of water from the James Kleinhans works is also limited due to the capacity of the works and the raw water supply in that system.

Restricted Activities:

• Use of garden hoses and irrigation systems
• Watering of nurseries and sports fields
• Washing of cars with water from the Municipal Supply System

Any person who contravenes the resolution shall be guilty of an offence and, in addition to the person by whose act such contravention is actually committed, the owner of the property to which the water is supplied or, if such property is occupied by a person other than the owners the occupier thereof shall be presumed also to have committed such contravention unless it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that he/she has taken all reasonable steps to prevent such a contravention by any other person.

Penalty for contravention of restrictions:

A R200.00 fine per offence will be charged for people contravening the restrictions.

Conclusion:

• The restrictions come to effect on 14 September 2009 to allow maximum publicity of the Council Resolution.
• The Chief financial Officer and the Technical and Infrastructure Services Director have been delegated authority to review the restrictions based on raw water supply in the Municipal systems and until the restrictions are removed subject to monthly reports being submitted to Council.