Kruger Park Clamps Down on Water Use

Kruger park clamps down on water use

JOHANNESBURG, April 18 (Xinhua) — World super transfrontier park of the Kruger National Park said on Wednesday that ” alarmingly low” levels of rivers in the park will from Monday result in drastic cuts in water usage.

Freek Venter, head of the park’s conservation services, said: ” We realize that the restrictions will have a noticeable effect on tourist facilities as the lawns will not be as lush and green as they have been for the last few years, but we need to start conserving the little water that we have.”

The water used for irrigation at camps, hostels, ranger posts, staff villages, concession lodges, sports fields and entrance gates would be halved, according to the decision.

This was regardless of whether the water was drawn from rivers or boreholes.

Further irrigation restrictions and an end to car washes were also being considered.

Use of available water outside the park’s boundaries affected the park’s perennial rivers, including the Crocodile, Letaba and Olifants.

“It is now the end of summer and these rivers are supposed to be flowing well, but in actual fact (they) are flowing at the rates at which they normally flow in September or October.

“Our biggest worry is the long-term effect on the ecosystems found in our rivers which are, in effect, part of biodiversity,” said Venter.

When river levels dropped too much, insects and fish were forced into pools, forcing them to compete for survival and making them easy prey for predators.

Hippos defecated in the water, which removed oxygen and resulted in fish dying.

Venter hoped those upstream of the park would consider the reduced rainfall and drought when using water.

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