As heatwave looms, Johannesburg implements level 2 water restrictions
Large parts of South Africa are experiencing a devastating drought, and now the City of Johannesburg has announced level 2 water restrictions.
Johannesburg South: Water tankers will be placed at South rand hospital, Riflerange cnr Koll,next to rand water's reservoir 1/3
— Johannesburg Water (@jhbwater) November 9, 2015
2/3 Chrisville cnr Side road & kitty road.We also have roaming water tanker that move around affected areas @CityofJoburgZA
— Johannesburg Water (@jhbwater) November 9, 2015
3/3 We urge residents to be patient as the system recovers.We apologise for inconveniences caused by this.
— Johannesburg Water (@jhbwater) November 9, 2015
It is against this back drop that the @CityofJoburgZA has to invoke section 44(3) of water restriction bylaw
— Johannesburg Water (@jhbwater) November 9, 2015
A level 2 which is more austere than level -1 restriction.@CityofJoburgZA
— Johannesburg Water (@jhbwater) November 9, 2015
The news comes as Gauteng is bracing for another heat wave.
Farmers across the country are currently meeting with banks in order to discuss how they can survive the current drought AgriSA's Johan Pienaar confirmed earlier.
Emerging farmers are particularly threatened as fodder is scarce and the maize crop is well below average.
KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State are the two provinces worst-hit by drought, but North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga are also suffering.
Dr Francois Engelbrecht from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research told News24 that this is going to be the warmest year ever on the global climate record.
The warming is due to a combination of El Nino and climate change.
El Nino is the warming of the Pacific Ocean from its normal temperatures, which often results in severe weather conditions.
"Every 2 to 7 years the Pacific Ocean warms up. We are in such an event now, and the ocean temperatures are warmer than normal," Engelbrecht said.
"The event is expected to intensify further and peak in December."
Usually when the global record increases it is by 0.01%. This year it is expected to go beyond 0.1%.
"That is 10 times higher than what is normal."
We urge customers to continue saving saver #Savewater, Avoid watering gardens during the day,Avoid washing your cars using hose pipes^TK
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) November 9, 2015