Cape Town:The City of Cape Town has called on residents, businesses, and visitors to conserve water as the region braces for a potentially longer, hotter, and drier summer season. This initiative is part of the city's More Summer campaign, which aims to promote water-saving practices in anticipation of decreased rainfall until the next winter season.
According to South African Government News Agency, the city's water consumption has risen to 912 million liters per day (MLD), surpassing its target of 860 MLD by over 52 MLD. Current dam levels are reported to be at 71.7%, which is approximately 15% lower than last year's average. The city estimates that household water consumption needs to decrease by at least 10% throughout the upcoming summer and into the following winter.
Additionally, the outcome of the National Department of Water and Sanitation's annual operating assessment will determine if water restrictions will be necessary for users of the Western Cape Water Supply System, including Cape Town. Despite the absence of current restrictions, the city stresses the importance of responsible water use, given unpredictable rainfall patterns.
The city's statistics indicate that around 70% of high-volume water consumption occurs in households, emphasizing the need for domestic water-saving measures. Suggestions include flushing toilets only when necessary, taking shorter showers, using washing machines and dishwashers with full loads, and turning off taps while brushing teeth or shaving.
Residents are also encouraged to wash vehicles with buckets or controlled spray nozzles to avoid continuous water flow and to use water-efficient nozzles for gardening, watering plants for no longer than an hour before 9 am or after 6 pm. The city advises directing water towards plant roots and managing water use during children's summer activities and cooling down on hot days. Pool owners are urged to cover pools when not in use to reduce evaporation and to utilize rainwater or alternative sources for topping up.
The city's Water By-law enforces permanent regulations concerning water use, which remain in effect even without formal restrictions, aiming to maintain collective water use below the 860 MLD target.