The Kouga Municipality has issued an urgent appeal to residents in Jeffreys Bay to reduce water consumption immediately.
In a statement Saturday afternoon, the Kouga Municipality said that the water supply to Upper Wavecrest is under severe pressure due to over-consumption.
“We urgently request all residents and holiday-makers to reduce water consumption with immediate effect,” the statement said.
“Due to falling levels in the dams supply Kouga with water, all the towns in Kouga need to also reduce water usage to ensure a continual supply throughout December,” Kouga Municipality said.
On Friday, the Kouga Municipality announced the implementation of water restrictions across the Kouga region.
Punitive tarrifs will come into effect on 1 January, 2017.
Kouga Executive Mayor, Elza van Lingen said “the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, the watering of gardens and lawns, the washing of paved areas, walls, roofs and vehicles and the filling of swimming pools are prohibited.”
She said the only exception for connecting a hosepipe to a tap supplying water from the municipality, is for fire-fighting purposes.
Kouga Municipality said it receives the bulk of its water for domestic use from Nelson Mandela Bay, and the the decision to impose water restrictions and punitive tariffs, follows on a mandate received from the Metro that water usage needs to be cut back by 15%.
Affected towns include Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis, Oyster Bay, Patensie, Hankey, Loerie and Thornhill.
