Cape Town dam levels drop to 57,2%, City urges residents to conserve water
Cape Town residents are urged to conserve water as dam levels fall to 57,2%, well below last year's measurements at this time.
Image: Cindy Waxa
As temperatures soar across Cape Town this week, the City has urged residents, businesses, and industries to use water responsibly, as dam levels fall to 57,2%.
Mayoral Committee Member for Water and SanitationOver the past week, daily water usage decreased slightly to 1 031 million litres a day, down from 1 052 million litres the previous week. Despite this reduction, consumption remains above the City’s target of 975 million litres a day.
“While Cape Town experiences hot weather this week, and we absolutely need to keep ourselves hydrated and cool, please let us not also lose sight of using water wisely in and around our homes, businesses and industries, and for essential purposes only,” said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.
According to the city, current dam levels are 19% lower than at the same time last year, with rainfall remaining unpredictable.
"While there is no immediate cause for concern about water security in Cape Town, all of us use water, so we all have to save where we can," Badroodien said.
The City provided several practical steps to reduce water consumption: residents are urged to find and repair leaking taps, toilets, and pipes; monitor household usage; water gardens at night; and avoid topping up swimming pools unnecessarily.
Large water users are encouraged to switch to treated effluent for industrial irrigation or construction purposes.
The City of Cape Town continues to implement measures to manage water supply ahead of the next seasonal rainfall cycle and encourages residents to adopt water-wise practices.
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