Cape Town – The City of Cape Town is tightening the screws around water consumption after dam levels in the Western Cape dropped to even more alarming levels this week.
As at Monday, dam levels dropped to 26.2,%, which is 1.2% down from a week ago.
Despite Level 3B restrictions, the latest actual consumption is 825 million litres of collective use per day.
The City has now lowered its water usage target from 800 million litres to 700 for citizens, in the hopes of saving more.
Mayor Patricia de Lille said rday failing substantial rainfall, Cape Town could run out of drinkable water within the next four-and-a-half months.
“If we are to reduce the consumption to 700 million litres of collective use per day, and at the current draw-down rate on dams, we could be looking at approximately 135 days of useable water left,” says De Lille.
While the City thanks all water savers, it said consumption must be lowered immediately to avert a crisis.
In December 2016, the target of 800 million litres per day was set and this was subject to seasonal variations which, among others, affect the evaporation rate of dams.
“These variations have caused us to lower the target now."
“In addition, we have struggled to meet the previous target and we will therefore need a monumental effort to reduce consumption further and to meet a target that is one hundred million litres lower,’ says De Lille.
The City is currently targeting it’s 20 000 highest water consumers, while spot fines of R5 000 and even a jail term is on the cards for the offenders.