The City of Cape Town is predicted to experience an even drier summer, based on the city’s current rainfall patterns.

To address the city’s dire situation, 500 global leaders in the water sector will meet next May at the 2018 International Water Association’s Water Loss Conference which will be held in Cape Town.

The conference will provide these leading experts with a platform to share their experiences, ideas and expertise in the area, and to find realistic solutions to address the city’s crippling predicament.

Ronnie McKenzie, chairman of the International Water Association’s specialist group on water loss, said many successful case studies will be showcased from South Africa as the country is highly regarded worldwide in the field of water losses.

He added that South Africa was also considered to be one of the leaders in advanced pressure control as three of the largest advanced pressure control installations in the world were commissioned in South Africa – two of which can be found in Cape Town.

City mayor Patricia de Lille said the city is looking forward to “learning as much as we can in our goal to build a water-resilient city to ensure that our residents and our economy can adapt, survive and grow”.

Emphasising water saving

The city has also urged residents to maintain saving water and at the beginning of July, implemented level 4b water restrictions. These restrictions require all water users to use less than 87 litres of water per person per day in total, irrespective of whether people are at home, work, school, or elsewhere.

Citizens across the city are being made aware of the need to build its water reserves during winter as most of the city’s annual rainfall comes then.

Mayco members Eddie Andrews said city staff, water inspectors, and law enforcement officers have and continue to go into suburbs to spread awareness about the crippling water shortages.

“Although our water-saving awareness drive was well received by residents, we are alarmed at the number of people who are still not completely familiar with the water restriction requirements or ways in which they could save water,” he said.

“We need residents to take responsibility now and not to ease up during these winter months,” he added. “Saving water needs to become our new normal and it is important that we hold each other accountable during this critical time. We will all be affected equally if we do not build up the necessary reserves.”