Level 4b Water Restrictions in Place

Despite the recent rains, dam levels remain critically low and reserves still need to be built up during winter for the expected harsh summer months. The City of Cape Town has now implemented Level 4B Water Restrictions.

Residents are urged to assist in reducing collective water usage to 500 million litres per day which requires all water users to immediately use less than 87 litres of water per person per day, irrespective of whether you are at home, work or elsewhere.

To get to below 87 litres of water per person per day in total, residents are asked to:

• Only flush the toilet when necessary, wherever you are
• Take a shower that is shorter than two minutes. Switch to an efficient shower head. Only do a ‘wipe down’ on alternative days to conserve water
• Collect your shower, bath and basin water and reuse it to flush your toilet, and for the garden and cleaning (bear in mind that greywater use has some health and hygiene risks you must avoid; keep hands and surface areas sanitised/disinfected)
• Defrost food in the fridge or naturally rather than placing it under running water
• Use a cup instead of running taps in the bathroom or kitchen for brushing teeth, shaving, drinking etc.
• Wait for a full load before running washing machines and dishwashers. The rinse water from some washing machines can be reused for the next wash cycle
• Upgrade to a multi-flush toilet and/or put a water displacement item in the cistern which can halve your water use per flush
•  Fit taps with aerators or restrictors to reduce flow to no more than six litres per minute, as per the City’s by-laws
• Check for leaks on your property and fix it immediately

For further information visit the water restrictions page on the City’s website: www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater

Residents can contact the City via email to water@capetown.gov.za for queries or to report contraventions of the water restrictions or they can send an SMS to 31373.

Please also note that water supplied by the City remains safe to drink, tested in accordance with the most rigorous safety standards.