The total capacity of dams supplying the Cape Town metro increased by 0,4% in the last week, from 97,7% the previous week to 98,1%.
This is according to the City of Cape Town who reports that the daily water consumption for the same period increased to 756 million litres per day, compared to 726 million litres the week before. At the same time last year, dam levels were at 83,9%.
Even though dam levels have increased following recent heavy rainfall, the amount of water in our dams, which is shared with other municipalities does not directly influence the cost of delivering the overall water and sanitation service, the City explains. This statement is aimed at residents who might be questioning whether water tariffs can be lowered.
The City is mindful that tariff structures might be tricky to understand, and outlines the following key points:
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The cost of providing the service remains largely the same regardless of how much or how little water flows through the system.
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The service includes the treatment and scientific quality testing of water; operation, repairs and maintenance of infrastructure; and transport and treatment of wastewater.
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The amount to be recovered to fund the service however depends on how much water is used by the customers.
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Many Cape Town residents have sustained the water-wise efficiencies developed during the drought, and as such, water costs more per kilolitre on average compared to the period before the drought.
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Post-drought tariffs also need to absorb the cost of the New Water Programme (NWP), which aims to produce approximately 300 million litres (Ml) per day through groundwater abstraction, desalination and water re-use by 2030.
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The NWP aims to build resilience to the effects of climate change, and future droughts, ensuring a safe, reliable water supply for generations to come.
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The City does not budget for a profit from the sale of water and seeks to keep costs of service delivery as low as possible.
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The water tariff is made up of a fixed part and a usage part. It is a model used by numerous municipalities all over the country and helps provide a reliable water service.
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The fixed/variable tariff model helps stabilise revenue streams so that the impact of variations in consumption are reduced to the benefit of operations and maintenance programmes.
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If the fixed portion of the tariff model was removed, the usage part of the tariff will need to be increased significantly to compensate.
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Residents who are registered as indigent do not pay the fixed part of the water tariff and receive a free allocation of water monthly.
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Picture: Twitter