Level 6B water restrictions will remain in place in Cape Town but Day Zero will not happen in 2018.
The city’s drought crisis team, led by DA leader Mmusi Maimane, said at a press conference today that the metro’s water supply will not be suspended this year depending on favourable winter rain patterns and residents’ reduced consumption.
Water consumption across the city has dropped dramatically from 1,2-billion litres per day in February 2015 to around 520-million litres per day at present.
Maimane said, “I am happy to announce today that provided we continue consuming water at current levels‚ and we receive decent winter rainfall this year‚ Day Zero will not occur in 2018. This means the taps will stay open in 2018.”
He thanked residents for responding magnificently. “Everyone played their part in this city-wide collective effort to keep the taps open‚” said Maimane.
Level 6B water restrictions, which allows residents to use only 5o litres of water per person, per day, kicked into effect on February 1.
Maimane said the city is hopeful day zero will be avoided altogether this year, so long as there is decent rainfall this season and residents keep saving water.
The dam levels have dropped by 0,4% to 23,6% this week.
Earlier today Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson said: “The city now projects that, if there was to be no rainfall, Day Zero would arrive on 27 August 2018.
“As this date falls deep within the normal rainfall period, it is no longer appropriate to project the date without any consideration of rainfall. Thus, provided we continue our current water savings efforts, Day Zero can be avoided completely this year.”
Picture: Twitter