A MARGATE car-wash owner is concerned that Ugu District Municipality is not punishing businesses that don’t comply with water restrictions that were announced earlier this year.
In response to the current drought and water shortage, Ugu forbade the use of high-pressure hoses to wash cars.
“Although it has had a negative impact on our business, we heeded the municipality’s call and stopped using hoses,” said the car-wash owner who asked not to be named. She says they have been using buckets ever since.
“Why should we comply while others are allowed to do as they please? This is very unfair,” she said.
At a car wash in the Port Shepstone CBD, it is business as usual because they have never stopped using high-pressure hoses even when restrictions were announced.
The owner, who said he fears victimisation if his identity is revealed, said using a high-pressure hose to wash a car uses less water than when using a bucket.
“I compiled all this information and sent it to Ugu so they can see for themselves that using high-pressure hoses saves water.”
He said he has never heard from Ugu after sending the information to them.
Despite several reports that some businesses were not complying with the restrictions, Ugu said nobody has been fined.
