Due to the good rainfall we recently received in the Hessequa municipal area, Council reduced the water restrictions in all towns to Level 2 on 27 May 2026.
The new water restrictions applicable to the various towns in the Hessequa region are as follows:
LEVEL 2 Water Restrictions: Albertinia, Gouritsmond, Stilbaai, Melkhoutfontein, Jongensfontein, Witsand, Slangrivier, Heidelberg, Garcia and Riversdale
- Gardens may only be watered twice a week between 17:00 and 18:00. Even house numbers may water their gardens on Mondays and Thursdays and odd house numbers on Tuesdays and Fridays. This provision supersedes all previous permissions for watering gardens at other times.
- Garden hoses, buckets, watering cans and automatic irrigation systems may be used for watering gardens, provided this occurs within the permitted time slot. Garden hoses may only be used if supervised.
- Hosing down of paving and cement surfaces is prohibited.
- Washing of vehicles, caravans and boats may only be done by means of a bucket.
- Properties where alternative water resources such as rainwater tanks or boreholes are used, must ensure that it is clearly indicated.
- Nursing homes, nurseries and car wash businesses are excluded from this restriction.
- The provision of municipal services, which include sports facilities and municipal assets, is excluded from the above restrictions and will be managed by the Administration on an ad hoc basis.
- This replaces previous restrictions and is valid for Albertinia, Gouritsmond, Stilbaai, Melkhoutfontein, Jongensfontein, Witsand, Slangrivier, Heidelberg, Garcia and Riversdale.
- The situation in the above towns will be monitored and stricter restrictions will be imposed if the state of water sources deteriorates.
