The need to save water in the Cape continues

The average water consumption of Capetonians the past week was 519 million litres per day, which is an increase on last week’s consumption of 505 million litres per day.

The City of Cape Town says dam levels have improved slightly from last week’s levels, by 1,8,% to 58,8% of storage capacity.

It says it has been a dry start to August, far below Cape Town’s long-term rainfall average for this time of year.

The City says water restrictions and associated tariffs remain in place to help protect Cape Town’s dams and water services.

Deputy mayor Ian Neilson says some areas in the metropole have received just a quarter, or at most a third, of the long-term average rainfall.

This has slowed down the rapid recovery of Cape Town’s dams experienced at the start of winter, he explains.

“Over the past few weeks, rainfall has been below average and this has drastically slowed down the recovery of the dams supplying water to Cape Town,” Neilson admits.

“We are in a much strengthened position currently, with consumption continuing to hover near the 500 million litre mark, as opposed to this time last year when we were consuming 608 million litres per day.”

He says, in addition, dam levels this time last year were at 31,9% of storage capacity.

Neilson says all residents need to ensure they continue with their water-saving efforts, especially in light of the low rainfall received over the last few weeks.

“We need to protect the water in our dams and ensure that we continue to build a buffer for the hot summer months ahead,” he said.

“Water restrictions and the associated tariffs are also helping to preserve the water that we have in our dams.”

Until the national Department of Water and Sanitation deems it safe to begin a stepped reduction of the current water restriction levels, Neilson adds, restrictions and the associated tariffs will remain in place.

He further thanked all residents for their ongoing support, adding that the City will continue with its advanced pressure management programme to keep water usage as low as possible.