The South African Weather Services (SAWS) have issued an extreme heat advisory for the Northern and Western Cape this weekend. With the expected hot weather in excess of 35 degrees in Cape Town, residents are advised to consider indoor activity over water-intensive outdoor activity, and to be water-wise at all times. The country is currently experiencing a chlorine supply shortage, specifically of the liquid gas chlorine used by water boards and municipalities to treat water to drinking standards. 

While Cape Town has contingency plans to ensure chlorine is available to meet the national SANS241 drinking water quality standards at all times, the public can help us by reducing their non-essential water usage collectively to about 800 ML/day range to ensure there is a sustainable supply of chlorine to treat drinking water throughout the national supply shortage.National chlorine supply constraints have come about due to an incident at the supply facility in Kempton Park. Residents are assured that Cape Town currently has chlorine supply at all water treatment plants, is taking delivery of further stock, and tap water remains safe to drink. 

 

It must be made clear that the city does not have a water shortage issue. The current call to be water-wise relates to national supply constraints of chlorine for water purification purposes. 

 

The City of Cape Town is calling on residents and businesses to please work together to help reduce our water usage and help the City through this period of national chlorine shortage.

 

Ideally, Cape Town’s overall water usage should drop to approximately 800Ml/day according to current estimates.

 

Over the past few weekends, water usage has reached pre-drought levels exceeding (1000 Ml per day) on several occasions, which is likely attributed to activities linked to hot weather. 

  

As part of our contribution, the City will be looking to minimise non-essential water usage at its own facilities.

 

For useful guides on these and other ways to save at home, e.g. find and fix leaks, visit www.capetown.gov.za/savewater and see water use regulations in the Cape Town Water Bylaw. 

  

Please be water wise in everything you do.

 

Team Cape Town, let’s work together to beat the heat while being water-wise.

 

 

Cape Town is planning for an extended period of supply constraints and is executing contingency plans to ensure chlorine is available to meet the national SANS241 drinking water quality standards at all times.

 

The City is already procuring chlorine gas substitutes locally and is actively exploring all possible alternatives including international procurement options to mitigate the risk of protracted national supply constraints.

 

The City is also looking at reducing pressure where possible to assist with staying within the 800 ML/day range, if required. 

  

While there is ample water in our dams, we need to ensure treated drinking water can be supplied sustainably throughout the period of national chlorine supply constraints.

 

The City will ensure ongoing updates to the public until the chlorine supply challenge has been resolved. 

 

Let’s work together to reduce our usage during this time. 

  

 

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