Cape Town’s daily water consumption has once again climbed well above its target, prompting renewed calls from the City for residents, businesses and industries to urgently cut back before restrictions become unavoidable.
The City is aiming to keep collective water use below 975 million litres a day (MLD). However, the latest figures show consumption peaking at 1 062MLD, placing growing pressure on dam reserves that must sustain the metro until the next seasonal rainfall cycle, as per the City.
Dam storage levels currently stand at 62,2%, a figure officials say remains manageable, but only if water use is brought under control quickly.
Weekly data published on the City’s water dashboard shows a steady pattern of consumption hovering well above the desired threshold over the past six weeks:
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10 December 2025 – 1 029MLD
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15 December 2025 – 1 029MLD
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22 December 2025 – 1 039MLD
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29 December 2025 – 1 010MLD
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5 January 2026 – 1 048MLD
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12 January 2026 – 1 037MLD
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19 January 2026 – 1 050MLD
Lower-than-average rainfall last year resulted in reduced inflows into Cape Town’s dams, increasing strain on the system.
While officials have stressed that taps are not at risk of running dry at this stage, sustained high usage could rapidly change that outlook.
Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, said the City is now 87 million litres a day over target, underlining the urgency of collective action.
‘Water usage this past week has unfortunately peaked, so we are 87 million litres a day over our target. Team Cape Town, we need all hands on deck to help bring our collective use down,’ he stated.
Badroodien emphasised that early intervention remains the most effective way to avoid tougher measures later.
‘All of us use water, so let’s do what we can to protect our supply. Early proactive measures are far more effective than emergency restriction.’
He added that reducing unnecessary use across homes, workplaces, industry and agriculture is critical.
‘We must reduce the unnecessary litres of water used in our homes, in industrial and agricultural processes and at work. We can’t afford to be complacent. We must closely keep track of consumption indicators on a weekly basis.’
City officials say several measures are already under way to protect supply and strengthen resilience. These include responding to pipe bursts and leaks reported through official channels, upgrading ageing water infrastructure, improving pressure management and accelerating leak repairs.
‘Since the drought, the City has and continues to invest in upgrading aged water pipes, improving pressure management, fixing leaks faster and strengthening metering along the water supply network,’ said Badroodien.
Looking ahead, longer-term plans are also taking shape.
‘To reduce dependency on rain-fed dams, the City is scheduled to proactively add new water sources, such as desalination and water reuse to our supply from 2031.’
With around 70% of Cape Town’s water used in homes, the City says household action remains central to reducing demand. Residents are encouraged to find and fix leaks promptly, monitor their usage and limit outdoor water use.
Key steps include watering gardens at night to reduce evaporation, avoiding unnecessary pool top-ups and addressing dripping taps or leaking toilets before they waste thousands of litres.
Burst municipal pipes should be reported immediately via the City’s official channels:
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Call: 086 010 3089 (option 2)
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SMS: 31373
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WhatsApp: 060 018 1505
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Email: [email protected]
Residents are urged to provide an exact location and request a reference number.
The City also continues to promote the use of treated effluent for industrial irrigation, construction and large-scale users such as sports clubs, golf courses, schools and new developments, as part of efforts to reduce demand on potable water supplies.
More water-saving guidance is available on the City’s website.
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