Residents of Tlokwe local municipality have been urged to use water sparingly as supplies have not yet normalised.

This came during a press conference held in response to the water crisis that started more than a week ago. Mayor Maphetle Maphetle said the crisis was not over yet but that the local council was doing all it could to restore supplies.

Last week the DA called for police to investigate a case of sabotage after it alleged that municipal workers had deliberately shut down five of the eight pumps supplying the city reservoirs instead of working on one at a time.

In his address, Maphetle said: “The crisis is still not over, but is under control. The supply lines are being monitored on an ongoing basis. Currently everyone is receiving water, although pressure is low in some high-lying areas such as parts of Extension 7 and Mohadin,” he said.

Maphetle said more pumps would be ready to function yesterday to improve on the three that were failing to adequately fill up the reservoirs.

“The purification plant and the Ventersdorp main reservoirs are full but the three minor supply reservoirs of Eersterantjie, Mohadin and Ikageng have been isolated until the pumping is returned to full capacity.

“These will be fed slowly once the pumping returns to full capacity and, barring any unforeseen problems, it is hoped the situation will return to normal in the coming week.

“We appeal to people to be patient, use water sparingly and report any water pipe bursts that may be noticed in their areas,” he said.

Water supply manager for the city Chris Stoltz assured residents that engineers were working flat out.

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