Today (Thursday) marks the start of Level 6B water restrictions in Cape Town, and residents have been asked to use no more than 50 litres of water per day.

According to the City, more than 60% of residents are still not saving enough water. The new daily water consumption target is 450-million litres per day as Day Zero is set at 16 April. Households that use 6 000 litres of water or more a month will be subject to a punitive tariff.

Level 6B water restrictions include:

  • A daily limit of 50 litres or less per person whether at home, work, school or elsewhere.
  • Outdoor usage of boreholes is strongly discouraged. Usage for irrigation purposes will be limited to a maximum of one hour only on Tuesdays and Saturdays before 09:00 and after 18:00.
  • Borehole/wellpoint water use must be metered and all users are required to keep records and have these available for inspection.
  • Permission from the national Department of Water and Sanitation is needed to sell or buy borehole/wellpoint water.
  • Agricultural users need to reduce usage by 60% compared with the corresponding period in 2015 (pre-drought)
  • Commercial properties need to reduce usage by 45% compared with the corresponding period in 2015 (pre-drought)
  • Residential units using excessive amounts of water will be fined or have water management devices installed on their properties.
  • Hosing down of paved surfaces with municipal drinking water is illegal.
  • Irrigation or watering with municipal drinking water is illegal.
  • No use of portable play pools.
  • Washing of vehicles, trailers, caravans or boats with municipal drinking water is illegal.
  • Filling/topping up of private swimming pools with municipal drinking water is illegal.
  • Water features may not use municipal drinking water.
  • All residents are strongly encouraged to install water-efficient parts, fittings and technologies to minimise water use at all taps, showerheads and other plumbing mechanisms.

How do you use only 50 litres in a day? Here’s a guide from the City of Cape Town.

 

Picture: Pixabay & City of Cape Town

 

Article written by

Nidha Narrandes is a food-obsessed travel addict with 21 years of journalism experience. Her motto - Travel. Eat. Repeat. She is happiest on a road to nowhere without a plan. A masterchef at home, she can't do without chilli - because chilli makes the world a tastier place.