New City restrictions kick in
Windhoek residents will have to save 15% as from next week in a bid to keep the taps running.
With severe water scarcity category D restrictions coming into effect next week, the City of Windhoek is urging residents to achieve the 15% water saving target, so it can keep the capital's taps open.
Over the past three weeks, the weekly water watch issued by the municipality shows residents are inching closer to achieving the target, which is set at 465 000 cubic metres per week.
This week overconsumption was recorded at 2%, with actual consumption totalling 474 503.25 cubic metres.
For the week ending 17 June, residents consumed 3% more than the allowable weekly target of 465 000 cubic metres - a total of 480 547.84 cubic metres.
For the week ending 3 June, residents were close to achieving the target, over-consuming by 1%.
However, for the week ending 10 June, 5% more water was used than allowed, and for the week ending 27 May, a 10% over-consumption was recorded, with a total of 497 332.69 cubic metres consumed by residents that week.
This week's edition of the Windhoek Express warned that as a result of not adhering to the weekly targeted savings, the date for dams supplying Windhoek to run dry advanced with between two and three weeks. This was because residents have failed to adhere to water savings targets throughout the year.
City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya this week underlined that “the water severe scarcity is real and every drop of water should count”.
Adhere
As of 1 July, when the category D restrictions are implemented, a number of water consumption guidelines will come into effect.
These will apply to watering and irrigation practices, car washing, the use of water features and commercial and industrial water usage.
Furthermore, a new drought tariff programme is due to be implemented once it has been approved and gazetted.
In May, Namibian Sun reported that the municipality had proposed a 10% water and 5% sewer tariff hike to come into effect in July.
While it is has not yet been confirmed whether the proposed tariff hikes have been approved, the proposed block tariff framework is aimed at motivating consumers to save water in line with the targets and ensure water leaks are detected promptly. If the proposed increases are approved, households using more than 1 000 litres per day (or more than 30 000 litres monthly) will be charged N$145.70 per thousand litres consumed. The target for households is not to consume 25 000 litres per month, with a daily target of 90 litres per person per household.
The proposed tariff structure will mean that households consuming between 6 000 and 25 000 litres per month, will pay N$36.43 per 1 000 litres. Households using between 25 000 and 30 000 per month will be charged double, forking out N$72.85 per 1 000 litres of water consumed.
As of July, the City will not offer rebates for water leaks, and are thus urging residents to conduct daily or weekly water usage checks to isolate and promptly fix leaks.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Over the past three weeks, the weekly water watch issued by the municipality shows residents are inching closer to achieving the target, which is set at 465 000 cubic metres per week.
This week overconsumption was recorded at 2%, with actual consumption totalling 474 503.25 cubic metres.
For the week ending 17 June, residents consumed 3% more than the allowable weekly target of 465 000 cubic metres - a total of 480 547.84 cubic metres.
For the week ending 3 June, residents were close to achieving the target, over-consuming by 1%.
However, for the week ending 10 June, 5% more water was used than allowed, and for the week ending 27 May, a 10% over-consumption was recorded, with a total of 497 332.69 cubic metres consumed by residents that week.
This week's edition of the Windhoek Express warned that as a result of not adhering to the weekly targeted savings, the date for dams supplying Windhoek to run dry advanced with between two and three weeks. This was because residents have failed to adhere to water savings targets throughout the year.
City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya this week underlined that “the water severe scarcity is real and every drop of water should count”.
Adhere
As of 1 July, when the category D restrictions are implemented, a number of water consumption guidelines will come into effect.
These will apply to watering and irrigation practices, car washing, the use of water features and commercial and industrial water usage.
Furthermore, a new drought tariff programme is due to be implemented once it has been approved and gazetted.
In May, Namibian Sun reported that the municipality had proposed a 10% water and 5% sewer tariff hike to come into effect in July.
While it is has not yet been confirmed whether the proposed tariff hikes have been approved, the proposed block tariff framework is aimed at motivating consumers to save water in line with the targets and ensure water leaks are detected promptly. If the proposed increases are approved, households using more than 1 000 litres per day (or more than 30 000 litres monthly) will be charged N$145.70 per thousand litres consumed. The target for households is not to consume 25 000 litres per month, with a daily target of 90 litres per person per household.
The proposed tariff structure will mean that households consuming between 6 000 and 25 000 litres per month, will pay N$36.43 per 1 000 litres. Households using between 25 000 and 30 000 per month will be charged double, forking out N$72.85 per 1 000 litres of water consumed.
As of July, the City will not offer rebates for water leaks, and are thus urging residents to conduct daily or weekly water usage checks to isolate and promptly fix leaks.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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