CITY OF CAPE TOWN

2 JULY 2018

MEDIA RELEASE

Record water-savings helping to buffer Cape Town for summer ahead

Summary
• Average water consumption for the past week has reached a record low of 481 million litres per day
• Dam levels have again improved significantly by 5,6% to 48,3% of storage capacity largely due to heavy rains
• Cape Town must continue to build a water buffer for the summer ahead and to help our dams recover from the extreme drought
• Any decision by the City of Cape Town to lower current water restrictions and thus the tariffs associated with them is dependent on National Government relaxing the restriction on water releases from the dams. The City believes that current conditions warrant a relaxation of restrictions
• New water and sanitation tariffs have kicked in and the City reminds all water users that you pay less if you use less

The City of Cape Town thanks all of its water ambassadors for continuing to save water despite the heavy rainfall of the past week and the announcement that Day Zero will not happen this year or the next.

‘Every bit of water that we save now will become a buffer against the heat and wind of the summer months ahead. The less we use, the better chance our dams have of recovering from the severe drought.

‘We believe that the main reason for the improved collective water usage figure is weather-related. Many people may have decided to delay doing their laundry and other water-intensive chores over the weekend because of the heavy rains. We are also in the middle of our winter, which traditionally is associated with the lowest usage. However, there are also many water users who continue to save water and to think about what they are doing with their drinking water.

‘We must ensure that we stay on the water-saving path,’ said the City’s Executive Deputy Mayor, Alderman Ian Neilson.

While the City hopes to reduce the current restrictions in the near future, and the tariffs associated with them, that decision is dependent on National Government relaxing restrictions on water releases from the water supply system. If the National Department of Water and Sanitation agrees to relax restrictions, we expect to be in a position to proceed with a stepped reduction of water restrictions and the associated tariffs.

Please visit www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater for all water-related information.

End

Note to broadcasters: audio clips are available for download
For English: https://soundcloud.com/ct-media/damlevels2julyianneilson

Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town

Media enquiries: Alderman Ian Neilson, Executive Deputy Mayor, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 1306 or Cell: 083 306 6730, Email ian.neilson@capetown.gov.za (please always media@capetown.gov.za)
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