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Defeating Day Zero is in sight if we sustain our water-saving efforts<p>Day Zero, the day we may have to start queueing for water, has now moved to 9 July due to a weekly drop in dam levels of only 0.5% (as compared to a 1.9% drop in 2014). This week’s lower rate of consumption can be attributed to the Groenland water reaching Steenbras Upper Dam last week and slightly increasing the dam level, as well as to a further reduction in Cape Town’s weekly average demand to 523 megalitres per day (MLD) compared to 1 130 MLD in 2014. </p><p>The Groenland water transfer and the reduction in our weekly average demand has had a dramatic impact on the Day Zero date, which is determined by assuming that the fortnightly trend of weekly dam storage change will continue unchanged. This precautionary outlook assumes no further rainfall and that water demand may not reduce over the next few months. It has been adopted to allow sufficient lead time for implementation of temporary water collection points in the event that these may be required.</p><p>We anticipate that Day Zero could move back into June again once the Groenland transfer has been completed, unless we are able to meet the 450 MLD collective water usage target. Therefore it is imperative that we reach this target to make it through to the winter rains.</p><p>Today I urge the residents of Cape Town not to ease up on their water-saving efforts. We cannot afford to slow down when the estimated Day Zero date moves out, simply because we cannot accurately predict the volume of rainfall still to come or when it will come. Last year we had abnormally low winter rainfall, and we cannot assume that this year will be any different.</p><p>The only way we can stretch our water supplies is to adhere to the 50 litres per person per day water allocation. Our water saving efforts across the metro have thus far been our greatest defence against Day Zero. Now is definitely not the time to ease up.</p><p>We once again want to thank the Groenland Water Users Farming Association for the water transfer, which made a considerable difference when we needed it most.</p><p>Our preparations for Day Zero continue as planned, along with the City’s aggressive roll-out of pressure management initiatives and the installation of water management devices at the properties of high users across the metro. Enforcement blitzes will also continue to ensure that all water users adhere to the water restrictions. </p><p>Latest water dashboard (<a href="https://coct.co/water-dashboard/" target="_blank">https://coct.co/water-dashboard/</a>)</p><ul><li> Day Zero: 9 July 2018 (was 4 June 2018) </li><li>Dam Levels: 24,4% (decline of 0,5%) </li><li> Total consumption: 523 million litres per day (73 million litres above the target of 450 million litres per day) </li><li> Percentage of Capetonians saving: *note, due to the implementation of 50 litre targets, this calculation is under review </li></ul><p>Level 6B restrictions make it compulsory for residents to use no more than 50 litres per person per day.</p><p>See the following link for the new tariff details: <a href="https://bit.ly/WaterTariff" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/WaterTariff</a></p><p>Please visit <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater" target="_blank">www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater</a> to see what a community water plan could look like community_water_plan for all water-related information, including Level 6B restrictions and regularly updated FAQs about Day Zero as well as tips to lower usage even further. </p><p>Also visit <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/watermap" target="_blank">www.capetown.gov.za/watermap</a> to see if your household is painting the city green to avoid Day Zero. </p><p> <strong>End</strong></p>2018-02-19T22:00:00ZGP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d;GP0|#904f8ac3-ad18-4896-a9a8-86feb1d4a1b7;L0|#0904f8ac3-ad18-4896-a9a8-86feb1d4a1b7|StatementsGP0|#4aeffa45-6f38-46b7-bd4d-6ecf13ae2543;L0|#04aeffa45-6f38-46b7-bd4d-6ecf13ae2543|dam levels;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#c051804d-9325-43b9-997f-daafb2e20bd5;L0|#0c051804d-9325-43b9-997f-daafb2e20bd5|think water;GPP|#8f0aed5b-4ba7-472c-92c5-c1c5bc737567;GP0|#b177dbdf-8304-4ceb-96ea-4ad972596ab6;L0|#0b177dbdf-8304-4ceb-96ea-4ad972596ab6|water consumption;GP0|#d49ebe58-e66e-437d-8c16-e045226bc7dd;L0|#0d49ebe58-e66e-437d-8c16-e045226bc7dd|examiner of driving license training1

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