27-08-2014, 02:18 PM
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu says mayors and councillors should be at the forefront of the fight against water leakages.
Premier Mchunu on Tuesday visited KwaMashu Township in northern Durban as part of the War on Water Leaks Campaign.
He said: “We will continue with this campaign across the province, and mayors and councillors must demonstrate leadership and be at the forefront of this campaignâ€.
The Premier encouraged communities to report water leaks and illegal connections to authorities such as municipal offices and law enforcement agencies.
“Through the War on Water Leaks Campaign, we are educating the people of this province about the importance of fixing leaking taps in their homes,†the Premier said.
He said one drop per second from a leaking tap wasted up to 30 litres of water an hour, meaning that one household wasted 10 000 litres of water per year through leaking taps.
“… This excludes water leaks in schools, hospitals, clinics, government offices, public buildings and other recreational facilities in various municipalities,†Premier Mchunu added.
He added that water leaks and illegal connections did not only occur in residential areas but also in various industrial areas.
“… In this regard, government is committed to working with captains of industry, business chambers, small and commercial farmers in order to ensure that we comply with the water laws in the country,†said Premier Mchunu.
Meanwhile, the Premier announced that R2.4 million has been allocated to eThekwini Municipality by the Water and Sanitation Department, to take care of water leaks in Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (INK) area.
“In the INK Area (Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu) about 533 leaks have been identified and fixed. About 375 illegal connections have been removed. 950 cases have been investigated,†said the Premier.
“At the end of second quarter in December 2012, eThekwini Municipality was losing more than 237 million litres a day - an increase of 3.467 million litres every day when compared to the whole of the 2011/12 financial year period. In 2011/12 the eThekwini Municipality a total of 85.6 billion litres – more than 234 million of litres a day - was lost,†the Premier said.
He encouraged municipalities to use the Municipal Water Infrastructure Grant (MWIG) to implement water conservation programme.
In order to strengthen the War on Water Leaks Campaign, municipalities must develop a concrete Programme of Action in partnerships with Water Service Authorities, Water Boards and other bodies such as the Water Research Commission, Strategic Water Partners Network, the KwaZulu-Natal Water Conservation Forum and tertiary institutions. - SAnews.gov.za
Premier Mchunu on Tuesday visited KwaMashu Township in northern Durban as part of the War on Water Leaks Campaign.
He said: “We will continue with this campaign across the province, and mayors and councillors must demonstrate leadership and be at the forefront of this campaignâ€.
The Premier encouraged communities to report water leaks and illegal connections to authorities such as municipal offices and law enforcement agencies.
“Through the War on Water Leaks Campaign, we are educating the people of this province about the importance of fixing leaking taps in their homes,†the Premier said.
He said one drop per second from a leaking tap wasted up to 30 litres of water an hour, meaning that one household wasted 10 000 litres of water per year through leaking taps.
“… This excludes water leaks in schools, hospitals, clinics, government offices, public buildings and other recreational facilities in various municipalities,†Premier Mchunu added.
He added that water leaks and illegal connections did not only occur in residential areas but also in various industrial areas.
“… In this regard, government is committed to working with captains of industry, business chambers, small and commercial farmers in order to ensure that we comply with the water laws in the country,†said Premier Mchunu.
Meanwhile, the Premier announced that R2.4 million has been allocated to eThekwini Municipality by the Water and Sanitation Department, to take care of water leaks in Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (INK) area.
“In the INK Area (Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu) about 533 leaks have been identified and fixed. About 375 illegal connections have been removed. 950 cases have been investigated,†said the Premier.
“At the end of second quarter in December 2012, eThekwini Municipality was losing more than 237 million litres a day - an increase of 3.467 million litres every day when compared to the whole of the 2011/12 financial year period. In 2011/12 the eThekwini Municipality a total of 85.6 billion litres – more than 234 million of litres a day - was lost,†the Premier said.
He encouraged municipalities to use the Municipal Water Infrastructure Grant (MWIG) to implement water conservation programme.
In order to strengthen the War on Water Leaks Campaign, municipalities must develop a concrete Programme of Action in partnerships with Water Service Authorities, Water Boards and other bodies such as the Water Research Commission, Strategic Water Partners Network, the KwaZulu-Natal Water Conservation Forum and tertiary institutions. - SAnews.gov.za