| Let’s twist again for a water-wise summer | Let’s twist again for a water-wise summer | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Dam%20Levels%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>The City of Cape Town is reminding citizens and businesses to patch leaks and use water wisely this summer as the hot days draw near. Water is an invaluable resource that must not be wasted. Fixing leaks, adhering to regulations, and using outside water wisely are important ways to save.<br></p> | <p>No matter the season or the condition of our dams, the City's Water and Sanitation team keeps a careful eye on water use and dam levels all year long.</p><p>The City is always mindful that water is a valuable resource that should not be wasted. While there may be no perceived immediate cause for concern about water security in Cape Town as our dam levels are at about 93,1% currently, it remains vital for everyone to remember to be water-wise. </p><p>'Setting a proactive water savings target until the next rainy season is a way of keeping us all accountable to use water wisely. This summer, like last year, let us collectively keep our combined usage under 950 million litres per day (MLD).<br></p><p>'In the past, the main reason for peak water demand during the hot summer months has been outside use, particularly for garden irrigation and topping up swimming pools. Let's all continue to do the right thing and be water-wise, not only during summer but all-year round, regardless of the season and status of our dams,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.<br></p><p>Using water wisely is imperative throughout the year for many reasons. Most importantly, it also helps the City maintain the supply when:</p><ul><li>pipelines and reservoirs need to be closed for maintenance and water has to be rerouted from other parts of the water supply network, which causes lower water pressure in some areas; and</li><li>there are prolonged/heavy periods of load shedding or when maintenance work is being done on bulk infrastructure.<br></li></ul><h4>
Hydrological year summary</h4><p>The National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) met with the City and other water users in the Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS) recently to talk about the rainfall this past winter and the anticipated water use for agriculture and cities.</p><p>There was a lot of rain during this hydrological year, and Cape Town and the Western Cape as a whole were affected by two big flood occurrences.</p><h4>
City's ongoing efforts to be water-wise<br></h4><p>Through various initiatives, including leak detection, yearly pipe replacement, and pressure control, the City's Water and Sanitation Directorate will keep up its own efforts to prevent or address burst pipes and leaks, and reduce water waste.<br></p><h4>Building water resilience</h4><p>The City will also keep carrying out our long-term New Water Programme, which intends to add 300 million more litres of water per day to the system by 2030.<br></p><p>This covers a variety of sources, including reusing water, desalination and groundwater from aquifers. These methods will be crucial to ensuring Cape Town has a steady supply of water as it navigates erratic rains and impending drought. The City's present reliance on rain-fed dams as its primary supply of water will be lessened by diversifying our water sources.
<br></p><p>The City is also contributing
<strong>R50 million to a partnership coordinated by The Nature Conservancy that clears thirsty alien invasive plants </strong>so that more water reaches our dams in the Western Cape Water Supply System.
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For water wise tips visit:</h4><ul><li>
<a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/savewater">http://www.capetown.gov.za/savewater</a></li><li>
<a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/waterregulations">http://www.capetown.gov.za/waterregulations</a><br></li></ul><p><strong><br></strong></p><p><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2023-12-16T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#c806300b-4b9d-45ca-8e89-cae3a77a1c85;L0|#0c806300b-4b9d-45ca-8e89-cae3a77a1c85|water conservation;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | City of Cape Town, Media Office | 0 |
