Comments flow about Joburg's #WaterRestrictions

Joburg residents were twice as likely to have a five-minute shower than a half-bath to contain their usage and avoid penalties after a clampdown on water restrictions was announced on Monday.

That’s according to the response garnered on Twitter on Tuesday when Johannesburg Water ‏@JHBWater asked followers to:

Retweet if you took a half bath this morning to save water #WaterRestrictions#,Savewater

— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) September 6, 2016

Retweet if you took a 5 minute shower this morning to save water #Waterrestrictions#Savewater

— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) September 6, 2016

The number of those who responded to the shower query was double that of the bathers.

The utility had‚ on Monday‚ warned that residents who do not comply with water restrictions - which have been in place in the city since November 2015 - will be fined‚ with the penalties added to their bills.

OktoberTwentySixth ‏@therealemjay26‚ however‚ brought up his billing woes with the city‚ asking:

Hw cn I be encouraged to sav water while Im payng 5320 for one month and 750 for the Nxt mnth wthout  chnging my usage? #WaterRestrictions

— OktoberTwentySixth (@therealemjay26) September 6, 2016

This‚ however‚ gave way to glee‚ when he posted:

@khaleesi_bella#WaterRestrictions Lol this is why I love twitter! Jus got a shower partner LOL

— OktoberTwentySixth (@therealemjay26) September 6, 2016

Mangaliso Ngcobo ‏@Manga_za saw this type of pairing up as opportunistic: “#WaterRestrictions those who want to bath with their neighbors sounds like they have alterior motives. @SakinaKamwendo @ShoeshoeQhu”.

Politics inevitably seeped into the social media conversation‚ with Oliphant ‏@oliphant11 questioning if the city’s new Democratic Alliance administration was responsible for the restrictions while Tshepo ‏@tzhepom seemed concerned about the implications for President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead:

@LeanneManas#WaterRestrictions is this DA policy now?

— Oliphant (@oliphant11) September 6, 2016

What about the fire pool? Is it affected? #WaterRestrictions@AyandaAllieP@Powerfm987  

— Tshepo (@tzhepom) September 6, 2016

Apparently I'm Cute. ‏@Miss_chanelP‚ on the other hand‚ welcomed the tough stance:

This #WaterRestrictions topic is so necessary and long overdue.

— Apparently I'm Cute. (@Miss_chanelP) September 6, 2016

I didn't quite understand load shedding because it was a matter of poor management but #WaterRestrictions is understandable! #SavingWater

— I Entrepreneurship (@BayekeniSA) September 6, 2016