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C. H. Vhumbunu
Water Augmentation initiatives. We also had plans to operationalize at least two of our four
desalination plants and also proposed to impose a Drought Levy on residents. Because of the
initial non-cooperative attitude despite the imposition of fines exceeding R5.000, we had to
install water management devices (WMDs) as residents exceeded restriction levels. We also
deployed pressure management technology to reduce water consumption. Residents staying
around water points would organize themselves to protect these water sources and also put
in place rules on quantities that one has to get per each chance. We saw this happening at
the Newlands Spring along Kildare/Springs Ways where Riyaz Rawoot (a resident around
Newlands) managed to put PVC [polyvinyl chloride] pipes to allow for more people to access
water.
Indeed, The City of Cape Town continuously adjusted the Levels of water usage
targets from Level 5 (in October 2018) to Level 3 restrictions (from December 2018)
for residential, non-residential and commercial users in the city (City of Cape Town
2019a, b). These had different measures relating to water use for household purposes,
swimming pools, personal and commercial car washes, park sprays, etc. The lower
the restriction levels would mean lower tariffs (City of Cape Town 2019a, b). The
community-based initiatives to reduce wastage of water resources and ensure adherence to the water usage restrictions may have contributed to the success of the overall
efforts to push further Day Zero.
Different community engagement initiatives had to be employed to conscientize the public on the wisdom of embracing the various community-based water
management strategies. Most municipalities made use of the various media platforms
to disseminate such information. One respondent from Cape Winelands District
Municipality confirmed;
Community radio stations played a very important role. Strategies to save water only work
when all residents work together, and they have to be convinced to do so. There were water
management messages spread on a number of community radio stations in Western Cape
such as Bush Radio FM, Radio Namakwaland, Voice of the Cape, UCT Radio, Radio West
Coast FM, Valley FM and Eden FM. These and many more help people to appreciate the
desperation of our situation and know the dangers of not cooperating to push Day Zero
further. I think it worked in averting the prospects of Day Zero, despite a lot of criticism that
we got from the general public especially on social medial platforms. What communities
would do was to organize local area meetings through councilors that would monitor the
implementation of the various water management measures.
The comments from the Cape Winelands District Municipality official were also
re-echoed by an official from the City of Cape Town. He responded;
The power of the media was felt. Countless times in town, locations and resting places we
could hear information targeting residents to cooperate with the Metropolitan Municipality
in implementing measures and strategies to manage water use. KFM, Good Hope FM, Cape
Talk, Radio Voice of the Cape, Umhlobo Wenene FM, and others broadcasted messages and
interviews to that effect which complemented SABC Radios, SABC TV and eNCA. The
same was carried in newspapers such as Cape Times, Cape Argus, Daily Voice and Vukani
newspapers. We had regular Water Reports that we would publish to update our residents.
In March this year we also launched, together with UCT, the Cape Town Drought Response
Learning Initiatives Film that reflected on the drought and told a vivid story of the drought.
It was shown across town and the province.
C. H. Vhumbunu
Water Augmentation initiatives. We also had plans to operationalize at least two of our four
desalination plants and also proposed to impose a Drought Levy on residents. Because of the
initial non-cooperative attitude despite the imposition of fines exceeding R5.000, we had to
install water management devices (WMDs) as residents exceeded restriction levels. We also
deployed pressure management technology to reduce water consumption. Residents staying
around water points would organize themselves to protect these water sources and also put
in place rules on quantities that one has to get per each chance. We saw this happening at
the Newlands Spring along Kildare/Springs Ways where Riyaz Rawoot (a resident around
Newlands) managed to put PVC [polyvinyl chloride] pipes to allow for more people to access
water.
Indeed, The City of Cape Town continuously adjusted the Levels of water usage
targets from Level 5 (in October 2018) to Level 3 restrictions (from December 2018)
for residential, non-residential and commercial users in the city (City of Cape Town
2019a, b). These had different measures relating to water use for household purposes,
swimming pools, personal and commercial car washes, park sprays, etc. The lower
the restriction levels would mean lower tariffs (City of Cape Town 2019a, b). The
community-based initiatives to reduce wastage of water resources and ensure adherence to the water usage restrictions may have contributed to the success of the overall
efforts to push further Day Zero.
Different community engagement initiatives had to be employed to conscientize the public on the wisdom of embracing the various community-based water
management strategies. Most municipalities made use of the various media platforms
to disseminate such information. One respondent from Cape Winelands District
Municipality confirmed;
Community radio stations played a very important role. Strategies to save water only work
when all residents work together, and they have to be convinced to do so. There were water
management messages spread on a number of community radio stations in Western Cape
such as Bush Radio FM, Radio Namakwaland, Voice of the Cape, UCT Radio, Radio West
Coast FM, Valley FM and Eden FM. These and many more help people to appreciate the
desperation of our situation and know the dangers of not cooperating to push Day Zero
further. I think it worked in averting the prospects of Day Zero, despite a lot of criticism that
we got from the general public especially on social medial platforms. What communities
would do was to organize local area meetings through councilors that would monitor the
implementation of the various water management measures.
The comments from the Cape Winelands District Municipality official were also
re-echoed by an official from the City of Cape Town. He responded;
The power of the media was felt. Countless times in town, locations and resting places we
could hear information targeting residents to cooperate with the Metropolitan Municipality
in implementing measures and strategies to manage water use. KFM, Good Hope FM, Cape
Talk, Radio Voice of the Cape, Umhlobo Wenene FM, and others broadcasted messages and
interviews to that effect which complemented SABC Radios, SABC TV and eNCA. The
same was carried in newspapers such as Cape Times, Cape Argus, Daily Voice and Vukani
newspapers. We had regular Water Reports that we would publish to update our residents.
In March this year we also launched, together with UCT, the Cape Town Drought Response
Learning Initiatives Film that reflected on the drought and told a vivid story of the drought.
It was shown across town and the province.