Water restrictions for excessive users in Cape metro

The City of Cape Town will from mid August implement water restrictions for excessive users. Picture: Jonas Kim / Pixabay

The City of Cape Town will from mid August implement water restrictions for excessive users. Picture: Jonas Kim / Pixabay

Published Aug 11, 2022

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The City of Cape Town is on a mission to fix over 2 000 leaks for registered indigent households while cracking down on those with high water usage this month.

According to the City, the 219 453 households deemed as indigent receive an allocation of up to 15 000 litres of water and around 80% of them have adapted to using water wisely, while the other 20% of customers have not.

Since the City introduced a new domestic water metering in July last year, indigent households who receive a free allocation of water and sanitation have according to the City been notified about how to manage their usage.

Mayco member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien said that those with excessive usages had been issued warning letters.

“The City has embarked on a once-off water leak repair programme which is set to start during August,” he said.

“By mid-August, the City will start restricting the water use of excessive users who are not keeping within the allocation despite warnings over the past months.

“A flow restricting disc will be inserted in the meter to limit water supply to a trickle flow. These discs are designed to allow a minimum of 6 000 litres (6kl) per month to the property, which is aligned with the free basic allocation provided for in South Africa’s national water standards.

“This disc will remain in place for 12 consecutive months. After the 12-month period has passed, the disc will be removed and the same process to manage water use to within the 15 000 litre allocation will start again for that property,” said Badroodien.

He said the “water management device” (WMD) meters were being phased out and replaced with open flow metres.

“WMDs will no longer be installed after the current stock is finished, and those being installed now are without a setting to restrict use.

“Conventional meters will be installed going forward. As part of this new metering approach, all 219 453 households registered and deemed as indigent at the end of June receive an allocation of up to 15 000 litres of water and the related 70% calculated for sanitation at no charge per month.”