The City of Cape Town has advocated for a conservative relaxation of water restriction levels, which would pave the way for the associated relaxation of the restriction tariffs.

Dam levels have again improved, rising to 62% of storage capacity, while last week’s average water consumption was 513 million litres per day, down from the previous week’s 527 million litres per day.

With dam levels now exceeding 60% the city, on a risk-based analysis, has proposed to the national Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) that the water restriction levels should be conservatively and marginally relaxed.

The city’s proposal is that urban restriction be relaxed from 45% to 40% and agricultural restriction be relaxed from 60% to 50%. This proposal was supported by the other municipalities in the system, and agriculture representatives motivated for a greater relaxation for agriculture.

According to Cape Town executive deputy mayor, Alderman Ian Neilson, the city has been advocating a risk-based and conservative adjustment of restriction levels for some time now.

“As the water supply situation has improved adequately, it is essential that an appropriate relaxation of restrictions takes place as soon as possible, not only so that economic activity can be improved, but also so that water tariffs can be relaxed from the current high levels to give the necessary tariff relief to households and businesses,” Neilson said in a statement.

The city continues all programmes and initiatives to ensure that water usage remains as low as possible.