Water Emergency Supply Schemes Imminent

Dam levels are effectively at about 16,2%, with approximately 100 days of useable water left at current consumption levels. The City of Cape Town is pleading with Capetonians to bring usage down to 700 million litres per day. The amount of rain that has fallen will not change the low levels of the dams and, it is critical that we do not draw more from dams than is necessary during the upcoming winter months.

‘We will progressively intensify water restrictions and will reduce water pressure further to lower consumption, which could in cases lead to intermittent supply over larger areas of the metro at the same time,’ said Councillor Xanthea Limberg.

If each person uses around 100 litres a day, we will achieve our targeted reduced consumption.

The City is in the process of bringing forward several emergency supply schemes. This includes the Table Mountain Group Aquifer, intensifying the City’s pressure management and water demand management programmes, and a R120 million small-scale wastewater reuse plant at the Zandvliet water treatment works which will be capable of producing 10 million litres of high quality drinking water per day to the central and southern suburbs of Cape Town.

In the event of an absolute worst-case scenario, should dams reach below 10% of the storage levels, the City will:

• implement ‘lifeline’ water supply, which would involve minimal supply pressures, intermittent supply, and very stringent restrictions (should we reach a stage of ‘lifeline’ supply, some areas in the city which experience very low pressures may be provided with water using water tankers)
• follow all legal, legislative and Council processes
• install water management devices, for those who do not limit consumption even if they already pay the highest tariffs

Residents can contact the City via email to water.restrictions@capetown.gov.za for queries or to report contraventions (evidence should be provided to assist the City’s enforcement efforts) or they can send an SMS to 31373.

www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater