Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille will announce the details of the city’s Water Resilience Plan on 17 August. Dam storage levels are currently at 31.1%, with useable water at approximately 21.1%. Collective consumption for the past week was 610 million litres per day – 110 million litres above the target of 500 million litres per day. As part of water conservation efforts, the city will be intensifying its pressure reduction programme. From this week, Cape Town will be lowering the water pressure in its reticulation network to roughly 2 bars at the critical control points in the various supply zones across the metro. “We continue to approach this unprecedented drought crisis in a proactive and innovative manner, via four main focus areas: promoting increased water conservation through restrictions, campaigns to encourage behavioural change, pressure management and restriction of supply to excessive users; procurement of emergency supply schemes; preparation for a day-zero actuality; and building medium- and long-term resilience as it pertains to water provision,” said Cllr Xanthea Limberg, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services; and Energy.
“There is no single solution to this drought crisis. We are therefore looking at all possible options.”
Residents urged to reduce consumption Residents have been requested please adjust their stopcocks to reduce the flow of water to their property, in addition to holding each other accountable when it comes to water wastage and to report contraventions of the water restrictions. Water consumption remains dangerously high and the city has cautioned that all means available must be used to reduce collective usage to 500 million litres per day.
