The last few days of rain blessed the Western Cape region bringing dam levels up to 69.1% as of today – we’re almost at the 70% mark.
As dam levels continue to rise, water restrictions and tariffs will be lowered as of 1 October. Restrictions will shift to level 5 from level 6B and sanitation tariffs will also see a reduction.
The decision to relax restrictions were made after a hydrological risk assessment, and the City’s confidence in the “significant behavioural change” displayed by the Cape’s residents during the drought crisis. This change will continue to help preserve water without the need for strict water restrictions and costly tariffs.
The higher dam levels are also sure to increase further with more rainy weather on the horizon.
Four more days of rain are forecast for this week including a rainy Monday next week.
The key elements of Level 5 restrictions are as follows:
– An increase in the personal water use limit from 50 litres per person per day to 70 litres per person per day
– A resetting of the overall City water usage target from 450 million litres per day to 500 million litres per day
– A relaxation of restrictions for commercial and industrial water users from a 45% to a 40% usage reduction
– A lowering of tariffs to Level 5 tariffs:
Residential tariffs (excluding VAT)
– 0 – 6 kL: Down 26,6% from R28,90/kL to R21,19/k
– 6 – 10,5 kL: Down 25% from R46/kL to R34,43/kL
– 10 – 35 kL : Down 56% from R120,27/kL to R52,39/kL
– Above 35 kL: Down 70% from R1 000/kL to R300/kL
Commercial and Industrial tariffs
– Down 18% from R45,75/kL to R37,50/kL
Picture: Twitter