Cape Town warns indigent households over water use as dam levels decline

The City of Cape Town is issuing warning letters and SMS messages to properties with consumption exceeding 15 000 litres for two consecutive months.

The City of Cape Town says no new citywide water restrictions are in place, but registered indigent households using more than 15 000 litres for two consecutive months may receive warnings before their supply is restricted.

Mayoral committee member for water and sanitation Zahid Badroodien said the City was intensifying its efforts regarding excessive use by indigent customers in light of the current low dam levels.

“The City issues warning letters and SMS messages to properties with consumption exceeding 15 000 litres. This is one of the City’s proactive water saving efforts to help registered indigent residents use less water,” Badroodien said.

"Reduce use below this limit next month or supply will be restricted," read one message.

The text messages come almost a month after the City indicated it was considering water restrictions.

However, Badroodien emphasised that no water restrictions have been implemented at this stage.

“If water restrictions were to be implemented, the City will inform residents of such a decision,” he said.

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said modelling was under way to assess possible restrictions in the Western Cape amid a decline in dam levels and consideration of water restrictions in the City of Cape Town.

She had indicated that ongoing monitoring, modelling, stakeholder engagement and risk assessments will continue to inform management decisions to ensure that timely and appropriate interventions can be implemented should hydrological conditions deteriorate or water demand exceeds sustainable levels.

Majodina indicated that a determination regarding the implementation of any water restrictions was to be made after the annual operating analysis and associated modelling assessments were presented to stakeholders at the Western Cape Water Supply System Stakeholder Operating Forum.

An online water webinar last Wednesday was convened by the City to provide an update to councillors and members of the public on Cape Town’s water situation.

On Tuesday, Badroodien said the webinar session did not have the authority to decide on water restrictions.

The Department of Water and Sanitation has the authority to implement water restrictions on water users.

“During the session, the City indicated that we and other users of the Western Cape Water Supply System are waiting for the Department of Water and Sanitation to provide the final outcome of their modelling which will determine whether they will be implementing water restrictions on the users.”

Badroodien indicated that at the end of the rainy season, which ends in October, the Department of Water and Sanitation annually assesses the Western Cape Water Supply System.

“Currently the City and other users of the system are waiting for the Department of Water and Sanitation to provide the final outcome of their modelling which will determine whether they will be implementing water restrictions on the users.”

He also said dam levels need to be 80% or more by the end of the rainy season to avoid water restrictions being implemented. 

There were other factors considered that included current and projected water use for both urban and agricultural users, as well as seasonal weather forecasts.

“Current City estimates are that consumption needs to drop by at least 10% less at a household level in Cape Town throughout the upcoming summer season and into winter next year,” said Badroodien.

He noted that Cape Town has not experienced much rain this winter and with a longer, drier and hotter summer expected, there was a need to make sure current dam levels of 73% lasted until next winter.

“Typically hot weather sees water use peak so our aim is to change that trajectory, and get Cape Town to save as much water this summer so that our dam levels can last longer and so we can avoid severe water restrictions at a later stage,” added Badroodien.