The Department of Water and Sanitation today reported to the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation that it is rolling out comprehensive interventions in support of the current drought relief efforts across the country.

In response to the impact of drought the department has deployed water tankers to provide water to areas that are hit the hardest by this natural phenomenon. These include rural areas in the KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Limpopo province which have been declared disaster areas.

Other provinces affected by drought include, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and North West. In Gauteng the municipalities are experiencing strain on the supply systems due to high demand and current high temperatures.

Deputy Director General for Planning and Transformation, Deborah Mochotlhi indicated that there are also short, medium to long term measures in place to deal with drought and these include tankering solutions, re-use and desalination, eradication of illegal water use, drilling of boreholes in suitable areas and rainwater harvesting as short term interventions.

On the medium and long term intervention there are transfers of schemes of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 2 – emergency transfer Tugela to Goedetrouw, Othangathi River transfer to Hazelmere and infrastructure developments in Hazelmere, Clanwilliam and Tzaneen.

Most importantly the department is appealing to every individual to use water sparingly and adhere to water restrictions as well as efficient water use practices including not filling swimming pools, or watering their gardens.

For more information contact:

Sputnik Ratau

Cell: 082 874 2942

SOURCE: SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIAL NEWS