The City of Cape Town on Monday, warned that people with unjustifiably high water usage would face water supply restrictions as the City remained 142-million litres above the 500-million litres of collective water use per day target.
“If there is a knock on your door, don’t be surprised when it is our Water Inspectorate and law enforcement agencies coming to inspect your water use,” the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services; and Energy, Councillor Xanthea Limberg said.
“Our stubborn high users have received warning notices. We will be forcibly reducing the water use of those who cannot justify their high water usage. We will see our first cases this week.”
The City said dam storage levels were at 27.9%, and that useable water was at 17.9%. The current water usage was 642-million litres per day.
The City urged all residents to immediately reduce water consumption as consumption remained “far too high”. It said that it was clear that water users were still taking chances, the City said.
Limberg said that properties with high water usage who are unable to justify the usage would get water management devices installed so the City could restrict the water supply. The first installations of the devices — normally installed to assist with debt management — would be done this week, Limberg said.
”Many of our water users continue to inspire us with their efforts and we thank them for understanding that this is our new normal. Our rainfall thus far in July has been minimal – at most recorded points at least half to one-third less than our long-term July average. If we do not save now, we will run out of water.”