Latest News on the Water Situation in Omund!

[Michael Alexander]

Dear Residents of Oranjemund
We have successfully commissioned 2 additional boreholes and I would like to thank those involved in doing so.  This means that we have now added more extraction capacity and are now running a booster pump at night.  We will monitor the situation to determine its sustainability but has also commenced a second phase whereby another two boreholes will be commissioned.
This is however not a green light to increase the use of water since we have to comply with our water extraction permit conditions, which limits us to a maximum of 22 000m³ of water per day.
I want to urge all to use water wisely by doing the following:
•       Ensure that no taps are leaking.
•       Do not leave lawn sprayers on permanently.
•       Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.
•       Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, pavement or street.
•       Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants retains moisture and saves water, time and money.
•       Do not run the tap when brushing your teeth.
•       Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and paving.
•       When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
•       Run your washing and dishwashing machines only when they are full.
•       Install a pool cover and check for leaks around your pumps.
•       Keep a water bottle in the fridge instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
•       Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it to water houseplants.
•       When buying new appliances, consider those that offer cycle and load size adjustments. They're more water and energy efficient.
•       Flush toilets only when necessary.

[toonfandangl]

I noticed one of your usage of water was to flush only when necessary Michael! don't they use dual flush toilets their in Oranjemund........................

[Michael Alexander]

Naw! We just haver a brick on a string hanging into the cistern, brick comes out for number 2!

[toonfandangl]

Yep! had the same thing happen to us before they introduced the dual flush a brick in the cistern reduced the amount of water being flushed unless you were performing a number 1 or a number 2 then it was handy to have a bucket near by. One of the great thing that O/M had was the electrical circuit board which would trip if there was a leakage or a small person pushing a knitting needle into the socket, that electrical trip system was before (UK) Britain  had it. In them days in the UK they had a three pin plug with a 5 amp fuse if O/M had had that system  we might have only had one son (at that time) so we count our blessings even today.

The plug shown here is what the UK plugs look like today.   

[Michael Alexander]

Interesting piece of Oranjemund history there Frank, I also recall somewhere that the Philips PABX Telephone system installed in Oranjemund back in the day was also the first installed on such a grand scale.....