The News Review:

- South Africa: Unexpected Benefits of Highlands Water Project
- South Africa: Water Meters Are Good for the Environment and Good for…
- Panel: Set deadline for stricter water rules

South Africa: Unexpected Benefits of Highlands Water Project
AllAfrica.com – Jan 30, 2008
The additional water has however, provided an important benefit beyond the original aims of the project — it is reducing the salinity of the Vaal Dam reservoir. GA_googleFillSlot(“AllAfrica_Story_Inset”); The reservoir near Vereeniging — about sixty kilometres south of Johannesburg — is the principal water reservoir for Gauteng Province, the largest industrial and mining centre on the African continent. Originating in the eastern part of the country, the Vaal River serves as the main source of water for the Vaal Dam reservoir. While the river is large enough to meet water requirements for the area most of the time, the catchment area is subject to severe and protracted droughts.

South Africa: Water Meters Are Good for the Environment and Good for…
AllAfrica.com – Jan 30, 2008
In what ways does this new system benefit consumers?As people become more aware of their water consumption, they start using the resource more carefully. Not only is that good for the environment, it is also good for their wallets. Besides, our residents no longer face the financial consequences of leaks or leaving the tap open by accident: When the water supply is reached, it is shut off. Based on our calculations, we estimate that an average monthly water bill should come down to around R30 [four dollars]. Consumers, who require more water and are committed to pay for that additional amount, can have the devices adjusted to their needs. How many of such water demand meters have been installed so far?We will install these meters in every newly built house in Cape Town. So far we have priced thousands of homes across the city with such devices.

Panel: Set deadline for stricter water rules
News & Observer – Jan 30, 2008
The proposal now heads to the full City Council, which will discuss it during a meeting Tuesday. Raleigh currently has 108 days of water remaining in Falls Lake as of today, and the city still could adopt Stage 2 before Feb. 28 if the water supply reaches 90 days before then. In setting a firm deadline for going to stage 2, officials said they felt it was better act sooner rather than later. ‘I think it’s appropriate for us to overreact and not underreact,’ said Councilman Rodger Koopman. The Public Works Committee also asked city staff to develop exceptions to the stage 2 rules for developers that recapture the water used to test city water connections. If the existing stage 2 ordinance is adopted, only projects that had been issued city permits before Feb.