As a result, residents in some parts of the town have been experiencing unusual water cuts that have affected mostly their domestic chores. Responding to a Monitor enquiry, Water Utilities Corporation (WUC)'s public relations official (PRO), Matida Mmipi said the insufficient water supply was a result of a planned shutdown to allow for pipe work modification by the project contractor as well as the unforeseen breakdown of high lift pump Number 7, leaving the system running only with pump Number 8. She noted that a combination of these occurrences significantly dropped the storage level at the town's storage reservoirs and that the corporation has been working on raising these levels, hence the measures that were recently enforced to facilitate the speedy recovery of the levels.
Residents of Selebi-Phikwe were requested during this time to observe stringent water restrictions to balance water supply with its demand. As such they were requested to avoid watering gardens and parks as well as sports fields and grounds using potable water. They are also required not to use potable water for construction purposes except where the corporation is unable to provide raw water. Contractors need to contact WUC for guidance and further details. Other measures put in place by the corporation include prohibiting of washing of vehicles with potable water using hosepipes and only washing of vehicles using buckets and pressure cleaners is permissible.
