George Municipality escalates to Level 3 Emergency Water Tariffs
Water Crisis
the George Municipality has escalated its water conservation measures, implementing Level 3 Emergency Water Tariffs with immediate effect.
Image: File
IN RESPONSE to rapidly declining dam levels and critically low rainfall, the George Municipality has escalated its water conservation measures, implementing Level 3 Emergency Water Tariffs with immediate effect.
The decision comes in the wake of a mandatory public participation process and comes as the Garden Route Dam dropped from 45.68% last week to just 44.50% this week, despite only 17mm of rainfall recorded over the same period.
The move marks a significant tightening of restrictions, as the municipality had initially planned to implement only Level 2 Emergency Water Tariffs after public consultation. However, “the further drop in dam levels to below 45% has made it necessary to implement Level 3 Emergency Water Tariffs instead”, according to an official statement issued by the municipality.
The emergency measures stem from a Special Council resolution passed on December 4, 2025, which had already elevated water restrictions to Level 2C due to “ongoing raw water supply stress caused by below-average rainfall and a rapid decline in the Garden Route Dam”, then at 49%.
During the 14-day public participation period — which closed at noon on December 19, 2025 — residents and businesses submitted comments and objections in accordance with Section 4 of the Water Services By-law to Limit or Restrict the Use of Water.
All submissions were reviewed, and written responses issued. Executive Mayor Browen Johnson acknowledged public input, stating that the municipality “noted the inputs received and approved the proposed responses and concessions where appropriate, without compromising the integrity and sustainability of the municipal water supply system”.
The newly enforced Level 2D water demand management measures include the following mandatory restrictions:
- Households are limited to 10 kilolitres of water per month. Any consumption above this threshold will be billed at Level 3 emergency tariff rates.
- Businesses and entertainment facilities must cut water use by 25%, while industries must reduce consumption by 15%, measured against historical usage benchmarks.
- Carwashes may no longer use hoses; vehicles can only be washed with buckets unless the water source is self-supplied.
- High water users will be actively monitored, and “flow-restricting devices may be installed where non-compliance is identified.”
The Level 3 Emergency Water Tariffs take effect immediately and will appear on January 2026 municipal bills. According to the municipality, these tariffs are “aimed at discouraging excessive consumption and safeguarding limited potable water resources for essential use.”
Recognising that some needs cannot be curtailed, the municipality has established an exemption pathway. “Households with verified medical requirements necessitating higher water use may apply for an exemption through the Deputy Director: Water Services, supported by appropriate documentation,” according to George Municipality.
Similarly, businesses providing essential services, such as hospital laundries operating under fixed-rate contracts, may seek partial or full exemptions from usage reductions and limited emergency tariff relief. All applications “will be assessed based on substantiated proof and historical consumption data”.
As the region braces for continued water stress, the George Municipality urges all residents and businesses to comply with the new measures to ensure equitable access to this vital resource in the face of escalating drought conditions.