The City of Cape Town has stated that there are currently no city-wide restrictions on water usage; however, registered low-income households consuming over 15,000 liters over two consecutive months may receive a warning before their water supply is restricted.
Zahid Badroodian, a member of the municipal committee for water and sanitation, reported that the City is intensifying efforts to monitor excessive consumption by low-income clients due to the current low reservoir levels. He specified that the City sends warnings via letters and SMS to entities whose consumption exceeds 15,000 liters, as part of proactive water-saving measures for registered low-income residents.
One such message stated: 'Reduce your consumption below this limit next month, or your water supply will be restricted.' These text notifications were sent almost a month after the City began considering imposing water restrictions.
No new city-wide restrictions
Nevertheless, Badroodian emphasized that no water restrictions have been implemented at this time. He added that if restrictions are put in place, residents will be notified of the decision.
Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina reported that modeling is underway to assess potential restrictions in the Western Cape, taking into account the declining reservoir levels and the consideration of restrictions in Cape Town. She noted that continuous monitoring, modeling, stakeholder engagement, and risk assessment will continue to guide decisions and ensure timely response in case of deteriorating hydrological conditions or demand exceeding sustainable levels.
Modeling will determine possible restrictions
Majodina indicated that the decision to impose any restrictions will be made after presenting an annual operational analysis and relevant modeling assessments to stakeholders at the Western Cape Water Supply System Operators Forum. Last Wednesday, the City held an online webinar to provide advisors and the public with an update on the water situation in Cape Town.
On Tuesday, Badroodian stated that the webinar session did not have the authority to make decisions on imposing water restrictions. The real authority to impose restrictions on water users belongs to the Department of Water and Sanitation. During the session, the City announced that they and other users of the Western Cape Water Supply System await final modeling results from the Department of Water and Sanitation, which will determine whether restrictions will be imposed on users.
Badroodian noted that at the end of the rainy season, which concludes in October, the Department of Water and Sanitation annually assesses the Western Cape Water Supply System. He also stressed that to prevent water restrictions, reservoir levels must be at 80% or higher by the end of the rainy season. Other factors considered included current and projected consumption by both urban and agricultural users, as well as seasonal weather forecasts.
According to the City's estimates, consumption in Cape Town should decrease by at least 10% at the household level during the upcoming summer season and in the winter period of next year. Badroodian noted that Cape Town did not receive much rainfall this winter, and given the expectation of a longer, drier, and hotter summer, it is necessary to ensure that the current reservoir level of 73% lasts until next winter. He added that hot weather usually leads to peak water consumption, so the goal is to change this trend and achieve water savings in Cape Town this summer so that reservoir levels can be maintained longer and avoid serious water restrictions later.