Water Restrictions in the Makana Municipality (Grahamstown etc)

So last night, while I jam some 3-man Chess, my lovely love tells me that she received an email. It's apparently circulating the whole city. Water restrictions are here. Guess electricity restrictions weren't enough. I urge to remind you, dear reader, that the control that governments have over our lives is our fault. We have been complacent. Much has been allowed to happen while we're too damn busy paying the bills and updatin our facebooks. Instead of being at the ward meeting (if democracy is for you)and instead of visiting parliament every couple of months if not weeks.

WE're not involved and we've given our power to bodies that can tell us what to do. Without further ado, here's a command from the führer.

WATER RESTRICTIONS BY MAKANA MUNICIPALITY

A: Effective from 01 February 2016 until 22 February 2016;

1.      The use of potable water distributed by the Municipality for watering gardens, lawns, parks and public open spaces is restricted to zero within the boundaries of the Municipality.

2.      The use of potable water connected directly or indirectly to, or derived from the Municipality’s potable water system for the purpose of watering of sports fields is prohibited, unless supplied by marked boreholes.

3.      The use of hosepipes connected directly or indirectly to the Municipality’s potable water system for the purposes of washing or rinsing motor vehicles, motor cycles, boats, movable or immovable structures, paths, pavements and paved areas (regardless of the nature of the material used for paving such areas), is prohibited.

4.      The restrictions referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply, though the use of borehole water is encouraged where possible;

o    To the watering of plants in nurseries that are operated as a businesses, owned by the Municipality, Organs of State, and those operated and maintained for research purposes.

o    To the washing or cleaning of specific paved areas at abattoirs, premises used for the processing of foods and to car valet services;

o    To where special exemptions have been granted in writing by the Municipality, and;

o    To where other sources of non-potable water are used and a notice indicating the source is erected in a position clearly visible from a public e.g. "Borehole Water Used”.

B: From 22 February 2016 until further notice restriction will be relaxed to the following:

1.      All residents of even numbered houses are requested to water their gardens on Mondays and Thursdays between 08h00 - 09h00 and 19h00 - 20h00 only.

2.      All residents of uneven numbered houses are requested to water their gardens on Tuesdays and Fridays between 08h00 - 09h00 and 19h00 - 20h00 only.

3.      The washing or/and rinsing of motor vehicles, motor cycles, boats, movable or immovable structures, paths, pavements and paved areas will be allowed only on Wednesdays between 08h00 – 12h00.

4.      The watering of sports fields will only be allowed on Wednesdays between 14h00 – 16h00.

5.      The use of single hand held hoses and drip irrigation systems (excluding sprinklers and pop-ups) will be allowed.

THE RESIDENTS OF MAKANA MUNICIPALITY ARE URGED AND ENCOURAGED TO ABIDE BY THE REQUEST OF THE WATER RESTRICTIONS SO AS TO EFFECTIVELY USE THE AVAILABLE WATER RESOURCES THUS ENSURING CONTINUOUS AVAILABILITY UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.