The City’s Mayoral committee has recommended to Council that Level 3 water restrictions be implemented as of the beginning of November, with corresponding tariff increases to follow from December 1.
This is in line with the directive from the National Department of Water and Sanitation to reduce demand on the Western Cape Water Supply System by 20%.
Key enhanced restrictions on Level 3 for residential users are as follows:
Watering/irrigation (with drinking water from municipal supply) of gardens, lawns, flower beds and other plants, vegetable gardens, sports fields, parks and other open spaces is allowed only if using a bucket or watering container. No use of hosepipes or automatic sprinkler systems is allowed
Cars and boats may only be washed with water from buckets
Manual topping up of swimming pools is allowed only if pools are fitted with a pool cover. No automatic top-up systems are allowed
No portable play pools are permitted to be used
“During drought cycles, such as the one being experienced, water restrictions and other water-saving and optimisation measures are necessary to ensure that water use does not exceed available water supply from the system of dams providing the city and broader region with water,” said the City’s Mayco member for utility services , Ernest Sonnenberg.
“We have a collective responsibility to use water sparingly and ensure that the dams are not drawn down to very low levels over the coming summer period.
“While this may cause a certain amount of inconvenience and cost burden to our residents and businesses, it is important that we take a longer-term view and consider the possibility of the drought extending into the next winter.
“We will also be lowering distribution system pressures where possible to reduce leakage from municipal and private water systems. This will mean that water may flow more slowly from taps and fittings. We thank residents for their understanding in this regard,” he said.
More information on current water restrictions, as well as tips on how to save water can be found at www.capetown.gov.za/en/Water/Pages/Water-restrictions.aspx
