The next 90 days are critical for Cape Town’s water supply systems.
The City of Cape Town has already begun warning residents to conserve water, to avoid a near day zero, which occurred ten years ago.
Although Cape Town is not in a drought, dam levels are currently just over 55%.
This is nearly 20% less water than in the previous year.
In addition, authorities say winter rains are expected to arrive late, leaving dam levels at an estimated 40%, come May.
Now Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member (MMC) for Water and Sanitation, says “small changes in how we use water can make a big difference. By reducing daily consumption and getting below the 975 million litres per day target, residents can help protect supply and avoid tougher restrictions later.”
He said the City has begun raising alarm, about a possible drought, as per the City’s Drought Management Framework.
It is an early warning phase, meant to let water users reflect seriously about the consumption rate of 1073 million litres per day.
This was recorded this past Monday, with average per person consumption at around 178 litres per day.
Picture of the Theewaterskloof Dam, near Villiersdorp, the main supplier of drinking water to over 4 million people in Cape Town. The dam is also used for irrigation to surrounding agricultural areas.