| Drought crisis: early warm, dry weather calls for extra saving efforts | <p>Dam storage levels are at 29,4%, with useable water at 19,4%. Consumption remains far too high, exacerbated by the warmer weather and associated evaporation. Consumption is at 632 million litres of collective use per day – this is 132 million litres above the target of 500 million litres. This target has been carefully worked out to ensure that we build up our reserves during winter and that we are carried through to the next winter season. </p><p>There should be no reason why essential indoor usage is increased because of the weather. If demand trends mimic weather or temperature trends, it shows that a significant proportion of consumers are flouting the restriction measures.</p><p>‘To ensure that we build the necessary reserves by conserving water while we still have it, we are carrying on with intense pressure reduction to lower water use, as well as carrying out dedicated enforcement efforts across the metro. We are also carrying on with our efforts to forcibly restrict excessive water usage. </p><p>‘We are in an unprecedented situation. This drought is far more severe and protracted than anyone foresaw and rainfall probability remains uncertain. </p><p>‘While we have made great saving efforts and reduced consumption drastically, we need to see how we can save further. Even small further interventions would assist, such as reducing your weekly number of current two-minute showers by two per week, or even showering for less than two minutes. Is there room to reduce toilet flushes further, even by a handful of flushes over an average week? I am convinced that we are capable of doing even more. We have seen this in the past with, for instance, our energy efficiency campaigns, where we have remained the leading city in South Africa by drastically increasing our energy efficiency when we needed to and subsequently establishing a new normal as it pertains to efficiency,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services; and Energy, Councillor Xanthea Limberg.</p><p>For information on how to adhere to the less than 87-litre total usage requirement per day during this severe and protracted drought, residents should please visit the water restrictions page on the City’s website: <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater">www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater</a> and utilise our new water calculator: <a href="https://bit.ly/ThinkWaterCalculatorCT">https://bit.ly/ThinkWaterCalculatorCT</a></p><p>Residents can contact the City via email to <a href="mailto:water@capetown.gov.za">water@capetown.gov.za</a> for queries or to report contraventions of the water restrictions (evidence should be provided to assist the City’s enforcement efforts), or they can send an SMS to 31373.</p><p>Water supplied by the City remains safe to drink and is tested in accordance with the most rigorous safety standards.</p><p><br><strong>End</strong></p><p> </p> | 2017-08-06T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#6798ccf6-afaf-4005-a730-4089ea4b74e9;L0|#06798ccf6-afaf-4005-a730-4089ea4b74e9|drought crisis;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#8f0aed5b-4ba7-472c-92c5-c1c5bc737567;L0|#08f0aed5b-4ba7-472c-92c5-c1c5bc737567|water restrictions;GP0|#374e72b0-c0e7-4f4f-ba6c-7b70810f82ed;L0|#0374e72b0-c0e7-4f4f-ba6c-7b70810f82ed|Xanthea Limberg | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
