Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
WATER RESTRICTIONS LIFTED IN VAAL RIVER SYSTEM 27 DECEMBER 1995
Prof. Kader Asmal, MP, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry has announced that water restrictions in the Vaal River System will be lifted with immediate effect following upon the good inflows after the drenching rains.
The Department's Regional Directors, in conjunction with the Water Boards and local authorities will soon discuss the practical details of the revocation. Since the restrictive measures differed from local authority to local authority, water users are requested to consult with their own local authority on how the lifting of the restrictions will be handled.
Water users are urged to continue using water sparingly. Sterkfontein Dam which acts as the reserve to the Vaal River System, is only 46% full and it will take more than two years to fill it by transferring water from the Woodstock Dam. The Lesotho High Water Project will also only start delivering water by 1998.
It is essential to remember that South Africa is not well endowed with water resources and that, in the long term, we will have to use our water ever more efficiently.
Enquiries: Mr H. Smit: Regional Director: Highveld (012) 672-2880/2878
M.J. le Roux: Regional Director: Free State (051) 30-3134