Mayoral committee member Water and Waste Service Xanthea Limberg said on Wednesday that the City of Cape Town is not required to provide an uninterrupted supply of water to residents. She said according to the water by law, the city does not constitute an undertaking to maintain at any time or at any point in is water supply system.
This also included maintaining a specific water pressure. This was a response to questions over concerns raised that the city’s advanced water pressure reduction scheme could permanently damage solar power geysers.
Residents in high lying areas can expect to water supply during peak consumption in the mornings between 05:00 and 09:00, and in the evening between 17:00 and 21:00. These disruptions will take place during advanced water pressure. The water outages are expected to only last a number of hours and not days or week, Limberg said.
Limberg mentioned that high-pressure solar water geysers should be able to withstand a few days without water with no adverse effect on the panel, geyser or pump. “If water outages are expected to last longer than a week, the city advises customers to cover the panel with reflective sheeting or a dark tarpaulin.”
Low-pressure evacuated tube systems, which are predominantly installed in low-income households, are at risk when the geyser is completely emptied.
Leave a Reply