Cape Town residents are being urged to reduce water usage as the city’s dam levels continue to decline, with officials warning that the coming winter may be drier than usual.
As of 16 March 2026, dam levels in the Western Cape Water Supply System stand at 50.4%, which is 17.5% lower than this time last year. While the figures are not yet at crisis levels, the City of Cape Town says the trend is concerning as the region approaches its winter rainfall season.
To strengthen long-term water security, the city is investing in major infrastructure through its New Water Programme, aimed at diversifying Cape Town’s water supply and reducing reliance on rainfall.
One of the key projects is the Faure New Water Scheme, which will treat new water to drinking quality before blending it into the city’s supply system. Once operational, the facility is expected to add up to 70 million litres of water per day.
The city is also expanding its desalination programme, which will extract seawater and convert it into potable water. This initiative is projected to provide another 70 million litres per day.
In addition, groundwater schemes tapping into the Cape Flats Aquifer, Table Mountain Group Aquifer, and Atlantis Aquifer are already contributing water to the municipal supply.
City officials say these projects are designed as long-term solutions to ensure Cape Town remains resilient during drought periods, particularly after the severe Day Zero crisis of 2018, when the city narrowly avoided running out of municipal water.
However, authorities stress that infrastructure alone will not solve the immediate challenge.
According to forecasts from the South African Weather Service, the upcoming winter rainfall season may be drier than normal, raising concerns about whether dams will recover sufficiently before the National Department of Water and Sanitation reviews water allocations on 1 November 2026.
That review determines how much water Cape Town is allowed to draw from the regional supply system. If dam levels remain low, the city could face reduced allocations and potential water restrictions.
Residents are therefore being encouraged to start saving water now by keeping showers under two minutes, reusing greywater in gardens, fixing leaks promptly, and avoiding unnecessary car washing.
Officials say Cape Town residents have shown before particularly during the Day Zero drought that collective action can make a significant difference.
City leaders are urging households to act early to help protect the city’s water supply and avoid stricter restrictions later in the year.
Also read:
Cape Town school principal claims years of threats and harassment
Picture: Siddharth/Unspalsh
