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Press Release Regarding Water Restrictions
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MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 163/2004
22 SEPTEMBER 2004
WATER RESTRICTIONS FOR CAPE TOWN
From 1 October 2004, the City of Cape Town will impose water restrictions on all users in the Cape metropolitan area. The restrictions are needed due the below average winter rainfall into the five dams supplying the Cape metropolitan area.
The total storage levels for the five main dams as at 20 September is 437 710 million litres out of a total capacity of 768 300 million litres (57% storage), with the individual dam levels as follows:
Wemmershoek - 59.4%
Steenbras Lower - 72.9%
Steenbras Upper - 91.6%
Voelvlei - 54.9%
Theewaterskloof - 54%
Given these capacities and after a sophisticated statistical assessment, the Department of Water
Affairs and Forestry has advised the City of Cape Town that water usage from the major dams
should be curtailed by 20% (over a year) from 1 October 2004.
Level 2 Restrictions, targeting a 20% water saving entails limits on:
1. The watering of gardens, lawns and public open spaces up to twice a week outside the hours of 10:00 and 18:00.
2. The use of hosepipes from Council mains for washing motor vehicles, motor cycles, motor
boats, paths and paved areas.
3. The use of irrigation systems - only a single handheld hose, buckets or watering cans may be used.
4. Automatic flushing urinals - these shall be turned off in all public buildings when vacated and prohibited in new buildings.
(See full Level 2 Restriction Notice below)
The restrictions will result in increased water and sanitation tariffs to ensure cost recovery and discourage high consumption patterns, as follows:
Water
Category Current Revised
0 – 6 kl R0. 00 R0. 00
7 – 12 kl R2. 15 R2. 32
13 – 20 kl R4. 30 R6. 15
21 – 40 kl R5. 48 R10. 41
41 – 60 kl R6. 67 R13. 34
> 60 kl R8. 60 R17. 20
Sanitation
Category Current Revised
Domestic step 1 (0 – 4.2 kl) R0. 00 R0. 00
Domestic step 2 (7 – 8.4 kl) R1. 52 R1. 52
Domestic step 3 (8.5 – 28 kl) R3. 30 R4. 39
Domestic Cluster 1 R0. 00 R0. 00
Domestic Cluster 2 R3. 30 R4.31
Commercial and Industrial R2. 05 R2. 68
Schools and sport R2. 05 R2. 68
Municipal R1. 89 R2. 47
Government R2. 05 R2. 68
The Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Nomaindia Mfeketo gave her assurance that “the City and
all its employees will adhere to the restrictions. I call on the community to be our eyes and ears
and report any incidents of water wastage on our part.”
Councillor Saleem Mowzer, Mayoral Committee Member responsible for water in the city of
Cape Town said “the restrictions are required to ensure the sustainable short to medium term
utilisation of the water resources from the Western Cape Water System. We should work
together to change our water consumption patterns, not just during the restrictions, but in the
long term to conserve our precious water resources for future generations”.
Annexure:
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
ISIXEKO SASEKAPA
STAD KAAPSTAD
LEVEL 2 RESTRICTION NOTICE
NOTICE TO ALL USERS OF MUNICIPAL POTABLE DRINKING WATER
Water Restrictions applicable from 1 October 2004
Notice is hereby given in terms of: “MUNICIPALITY OF THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN: WATER
SERVICES BY-LAW TO LIMIT OR RESTRICT THE USE OF WATER” published in the Provincial
Gazette No. 5994 on 28 March 2003, that, with effect from 1 October 2004 and until further
notice, certain restrictions, subject to the exemptions provided for in paragraph 5 hereof,
shall apply within the boundaries of the City of Cape Town.
Level 2 Restrictions
1. The use of potable water connected directly or indirectly to, or derived from, Council potable
water mains for the purpose of watering gardens, lawns, parks and public open spaces is
restricted to up to one hour, on Mondays and Thursdays for even street numbered properties
and Tuesdays and Fridays for uneven street numbered properties. The use of sprinklers is
prohibited. Only a single hand held hose, buckets or watering cans may be used.
2. The use of potable water connected directly or indirectly to, or derived from, Council potable
water mains for the purpose of watering gardens, lawns, parks and public open spaces is
prohibited between the hours of 10:00 and 16:00.
3. The use of hosepipes connected directly or indirectly to Council potable water mains for the
purpose of washing or rinsing motor vehicles, motor cycles or motor boats, movable or
immovable structures, paths, pavements and paved areas (regardless of the nature of the
material used for paving such areas), is prohibited.
4. All automatic-flushing urinals shall be turned off in all buildings during times when such
buildings are normally vacated by the public and/or staff other than cleaning staff. Attention is
also drawn to Provincial Gazette Extraordinary Number 5014 (1996), which prohibits the use of
automatic flushing urinals.
5. The restrictions referred to in paragraphs 1,2 and 3 only, shall not apply:
(i) for the purpose of watering plants in nurseries that are conducted for gain, nurseries owned
by the Council or State, collections maintained for research purposes, dune rehabilitation projects, cricket pitches, bowling greens, golf greens, croquet lawns, artificial turf fields and
major sports stadia.
(ii) for the washing of certain paved areas at abattoirs, premises used for the processing of
foods and to car valet services;
(iii) where special exemptions have been granted in writing by the City of Cape Town;
(iv) where other sources of non-potable water are used and a notice indicating the source is
erected in a position clearly visible from a public thoroughfare.
6. The restrictions referred to above shall not apply where special exemptions have been
granted in writing by the City of Cape Town. Special exemptions will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
Any person who contravenes the provisions of this notice is guilty an offence and is liable to
payment of a fine not exceeding ten thousand rand or to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding six months or to such imprisonment without the option of a fine or to both such fine
and such imprisonment.
Any person who wishes to object to the intended restrictions must do so in writing within 14
days after the date on which this notice is first displayed.
END
ISSUED BY:
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
TEL: 400-2201 FAX: 419 1929
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
WAHEED PATEL
CELL: 082 695 9702
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