POLOKWANE – "The Limpopo Province did not receive enough rain during the previous summer season," said Avhashoni Magada, provincial Water Affairs spokesperson.

"We are approaching the dry season, and we have gone for a month (May) without a single drop of rain. This situation has put our water resources under severe strain", he said.

He also stressed that ground water levels have gone down and many borehole water schemes are running low.

Dams and rivers are also low in flow and volume. "The indications are that we are facing a drought, even though it has not yet been officially pronounced," he said. According to him the situation cannot be reversed, but the risks can be managed to ensure an adequate water supply under these extreme circumstances. "The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, in conjunction with Local Government, urges communities and other stakeholders to join hands in conserving water and demand proper management by jointly implementing restrictions on water usage," said Magada.

He appealed to communities to use buckets and not hosepipes when washing their cars or watering gardens.

People must report pipe leaks and vandalism, he said. According to him, the Department of Water Affairs is working with local municipalities in the fight against the damaging of pipes.

"The Department is assessing the situation on a regular basis to determine the appropriate actions to remedy the situation," he added.