This week the level of the Albasini Dam has continued its down-ward trend and stands at a shockingly low 36,45%. The whole of the Limpopo Province is in the midst of a devastating drought and has experienced no normal rainfall for the past four years.

The Makhado Local Municipality again issued special water restrictions. Water should only be used for the purpose of normal household activities. Gardens should not be watered and swimming pools not be filled.

The water by-laws dictate the penalty that will be implemented where restrictions are not complied with. Excessively high water consumption as a result of dry weather conditions necessitated these special restrictions.

All consumers of municipal water, including Makhado (Louis Trichardt), Tshikota, Eltivillas, Vuwani, Vleifontein, Waterval, Dzanani and the maximum security prison, are requested to comply with the restriction. No period, however, has been indicated and restrictions will apparently be in effect until further notice. The municipal spokesperson was not available this week to clarify the matter.

On Friday, October 21, most parts of town had no water at all due to a pipe burst at the corner of Douthwait en Songozwi Street. The burst occurred where the main pipeline connects with the network and the water supply was turned off for most of the day. This week, lack of water was experienced in the new extension, the business centre, the prison and other parts of town.

At Buysdorp, the managing committee equally experiences problems of people using water illegally for watering of trees instead of for household purposes only. That occurs on top of the additional problems of low water pressure and a dilapidated water infrastructure.

On October 3, the level of the Albasini Dam was 39.01% and has consequently plummeted by more than 2%. The level of the Thate Vondo Dam has decreased from 65.55% three weeks ago to 63.23%. The Nhzhelele Dam stands at an all-time low of 35.59% where it was 39.87% three weeks ago. The level of the Luphephe Dam decreased from 46.04% to 40.58%. The level of the Nwanedi dam has stayed at the 35.91% mark for the past three weeks.