Vaal Dam levels

at what point do the water restrictions come to an end? And at what point do water prices fall back to where they were prior to the drought?
 
ambroseg1 said:
at what point do the water restrictions come to an end? And at what point do water prices fall back to where they were prior to the drought?
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https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2017-01-12-water-restrictions-to-be-reassessed-in-may/

Balzer said water restrictions would be lifted only after a thorough evaluation of the situation‚ which would be done in May.

"At best‚ we would only reconsider [restrictions] when the system is at about 70%."

While there is a long way to go‚ the necessary gains are not impossible.

"In December 1997‚ the dam was also at 25%. By the middle of February‚ it was at 118%‚" Balzer said.
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We need to change our mindset with regard to using water. Wasting water because the dams are full should come to an end.
 
rph72 said:
We need to change our mindset with regard to using water. Wasting water because the dams are full should come to an end.
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Oh so we should carry on paying unfair punitive tariffs? I'll go along with that if the money from those is made available to subsidise grey water/alternative water harvesting solutions. And if I see some actual new infrastructure happening at the supply side, NOT on the service delivery side where it's just a means to buy votes with no commensurate investment in catering for these new consumers...
 
Sinbad said:
Oh so we should carry on paying unfair punitive tariffs? I'll go along with that if the money from those is made available to subsidise grey water/alternative water harvesting solutions. And if I see some actual new infrastructure happening at the supply side, NOT on the service delivery side where it's just a means to buy votes with no commensurate investment in catering for these new consumers...
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No, tarrifs should come down, but I doubt it will. People just need to be mindfull of the fact that we are dealing with a scarce resource.
 
Sinbad said:
Oh so we should carry on paying unfair punitive tariffs? I'll go along with that if the money from those is made available to subsidise grey water/alternative water harvesting solutions. And if I see some actual new infrastructure happening at the supply side, NOT on the service delivery side where it's just a means to buy votes with no commensurate investment in catering for these new consumers...
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I think he means that water should not be wasted, no matter what - even if it's cheap and abundant. I agree with it.
 
Sinbad said:
Vaal dam has breached 70% overnight.

Wed 22 Feb. Vaal Dam Level 20m. Full 71.62%. Inflow 2237.6m3/s. Discharge 14.169m3/s. River Valves Open 1X100% 1X50%. Gates Open 0

That inflow is mad. Average is about 30 cumecs.
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@tWeatherSA said that the incoming volume is almost one Olympic-sized swimming pool of water every second over the past 24 hours. That's just staggering.

jouda said:
Happy news.... Now can we send some water to slaapstad?
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My thought/s exactly. As a water scarce country we should be developing our infrastructure so that we can channel water around the country from areas which are receiving above average (and/or where water storage is truly sufficient) to those which aren't.

For example, the Vaal is probably going to hit maximum before the end of March. Why not have the ability to channel excess through a network to others who are in dire need. In this instance, as an example, it would be toward CPT. Release water down the Vaal --> Orange and then pump it via aqueducts toward CPT.

I have no idea whether it is feasible, but there must be a way to make work. Water can presently be pumped up the Tugela (iirc) if needed to the Sterkfontein.

The cost initially may feel unaffordable, but I think the cost of CPT or another major metro running dry (e.g. Durban) would be far greater. The infrastructure build would also create employment (short, medium and long term) and increase water supply security.

rph72 said:
We need to change our mindset with regard to using water. Wasting water because the dams are full should come to an end.
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Just for edification, what do you deem as being "waste"?
 
McT said:
Water can presently be pumped up the Tugela (iirc) if needed to the Sterkfontein.
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As far as im aware they havent even been doing that and all that nice recent water is flowing through the Tugela and into the ocean.
 
We are not a water scarce country. If we were, you would see things like water reclamation etc. The problem is the DWS is 10-years behind with infrastructure development whilst more and more people are being hooked up to the drinking water systems. The "drought crisis" was a ploy by the department to obfuscate their mismanagement and to justify increases in tariffs. Think Eskom.
 
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Water tariffs should be sufficient to fund current water costs, maintenance, as well as the new infrastructure that needs to be built to support growing demand. It's pretty darn simple. I fear that people will take the higher dam levels as reasons to start wasting again. I don't really want the w3ater restrictions to be officially lifted completely. Use the change in behaviour to make lasting difference. Even last week, our suburb was mentioned for using too much water and threatening to cut us off. It is disgraceful that the many are punished because of the few. You can't cut me off because my neighbour is using too much. You have their water bill. You KNOW who they are. So don't you dare cut my water at night.

The fact is that water is too cheap for people to care.
 
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