| Water crisis: stricter water restrictions from tomorrow | <p>During this time of drought, our City’s dams are drastically lower than in previous years. It is crucial that all residents and businesses play their part by reducing consumption and saving water, while there is still water to be saved. </p><div>As at 30 January 2017, dam levels have dropped to approximately 39,2 %, which is 1,3 % down from a week ago. With the last 10% of a dam’s water being unusable, City supply dam levels could be seen as effectively around 29,2%. </div><div>
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</div><div>‘Thank you to those residents who are taking great steps to save water. In light of the current situation, we need a much greater effort and we call on everyone to work together to protect this precious resource which cannot be replaced. </div><div>
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</div><div>‘Water consumption remains far too high among many users and in many areas and it is time that all residents and businesses take the water crisis seriously. </div><div>
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</div><div>‘City officials and the Area-based Mayoral Committee Members are targeting the 20 000 highest water users to ensure that they comply with water restrictions and reduce their water consumption. We cannot all suffer because of the abuse of water by some. </div><div>
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</div><div>‘Some of the highest water users in the metro will soon receive notice from the City to drastically reduce consumption. The City will not hesitate to look at instituting enhanced punitive measures to force consumption down in high-use areas across the metro if required,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services; and Energy, Councillor Xanthea Limberg. </div><div>
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</div><div>Formal residential properties use 65% of the City’s water supply. There are particularly high-use areas in the metro such as in Athlone, Newlands, Newfields, Manenberg, Constantia, Lansdowne, Somerset West and Kraaifontein, among others, where some households are not doing their bit. It must, however, be emphasised that there are high water users in all suburbs across the metro. </div><div>
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</div><div>‘Water restrictions have been implemented as part of good, proactive management of water supply during times of drought. The City, which uses 40% of the water supplied through the Western Cape Water Supply System, will continue to lobby the provincial and national governments who regulate the water use of the other users,’ said Councillor Limberg. </div><div>
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</div><div>The City will continue to implement its other key initiatives for water management and conservation, as well as concentrating on water extraction from alternative supply sources while planning for the longer-term with the National Department of Water and Sanitation (who is the custodian of water resources) and other stakeholders in the region.</div><div>
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</div><div>The Level 3b water restrictions, which were passed by Council last week, will come into effect tomorrow, 1 February 2017. The intensified restrictions can be outlined as follows:</div><div>
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</div><div><table cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="ms-rteTable-default"><tbody><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="width:50%;">Going from: Level 3 (before 1 February 2017)</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="width:50%;">Now moving to: Level 3B (from 1 February 2017)</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Watering/irrigation (with drinking water from municipal supply) of gardens, lawns, flower beds and other plants, vegetable gardens, sports fields, parks and other open spaces allowed only if using a bucket or watering can. No use of hosepipes or automatic sprinkler systems allowed. Watering times are not restricted, however, residents are urged to limit their watering to the mornings and evenings.</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Watering/irrigation (with municipal drinking water) of flower beds, lawns, vegetables and other plants, sports fields, parks and other open spaces<strong> allowed only on Tuesdays and Saturdays before 09:00 or after 18:00 for a maximum of one hour per day per property and only if using a bucket or watering can.</strong> No use of hosepipes or any sprinkler systems allowed.</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">No watering/irrigation within 24 hours of rainfall that provides adequate saturation. Facilities/customers making use of boreholes, treated effluent water, spring water or well-points are not exempt.</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">No watering/irrigation within
<strong>48 hours</strong> of rainfall that provides adequate saturation. Facilities/customers making use of boreholes, treated effluent water, spring water or well-points are not exempt.</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Washing (using potable water) of vehicles and boats only allowed if using a bucket. </td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">
<strong>No washing of vehicles or boats, using municipal drinking water.</strong> Vehicles and boats must be washed with non-potable water or washed at a commercial carwash.</td></tr></tbody></table>
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</div><div><div>Further to the above:</div><div><ul><li>No irrigation using potable water will be permitted at City facilities<br></li><li>No increase of the indigent water allocation over and above the free 350 litres a day will be granted, unless through prior application and permission <br></li><li>Informal car washes will be able to use potable water from a bucket<br></li></ul></div><div>
<strong>Exemptions granted under Level 3 are being reviewed with the possibility of being revoked, and with the option for reapplication. Current water users with exemptions under Level 3 must adhere to Level 3b irrigation days and times.</strong></div><div>
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<div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic">
<i class="info citycard"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p>
<b></b>For enquiries or to report contraventions, residents can contact the City’s call centre on
<a>0860 103 089</a>, send an SMS to
<a>31373</a>, or send an e-mail to <a href="https://capetown.gov.za/">contact.us@capetown.gov.za</a> or <a href="https://capetown.gov.za/">water.restrictions@capetown.gov.za</a> (evidence should be provided to assist the City’s enforcement efforts). </p></div></div></span></div><div>For further information, residents should please visit our water restrictions page on the website: <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater">www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater</a>. </div><div>
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</div><div><strong>End</strong></div>
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</div> | 2017-01-30T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#8f0aed5b-4ba7-472c-92c5-c1c5bc737567;L0|#08f0aed5b-4ba7-472c-92c5-c1c5bc737567|water restrictions;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#da4d6418-6b72-42af-93bf-02f108193161;L0|#0da4d6418-6b72-42af-93bf-02f108193161|Level 3b Water restrictions;GPP|#90b49a62-96e2-436a-9c68-187c9ab33534;GP0|#0895b7f4-f9b5-44f0-8580-4988bf2a999e;L0|#00895b7f4-f9b5-44f0-8580-4988bf2a999e|penalties | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
