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While the Western Cape has recently been blessed with a deluge of rain that has allowed dam levels across the province to rise significantly, the City of Cape Town has reminded residents of the vital importance of water and the need for responsible consumption.

It stated that by adopting water-saving habits, each individual can play an important role in the City’s joint mission of water conservation, ensuring a sustainable water future for Cape Town.

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The most recent update on Western Cape major dams shows a positive trend in water levels compared to the same period last year. Berg River, Steenbras Lower, Steenberg Upper, Theewaterskloof, Voelvlei and Wemmershoek dams now have a total storage capacity of 72.2%. This is an increase from the previous week’s 63.6% and a higher percentage than the combined percentage of 64.8% recorded a year ago.

Theewaterskloof is the largest of these dams, accounting for more than half of the province’s total dam capacity, with 480,188 megaliters out of the total 898,221 megaliters. It is currently operating at 69% of its maximum capacity. With a capacity of 164,095 megaliters, the next significant dam, Volvlei, is at 45.6%.

While these figures are encouraging, the City of Cape Town emphasised the importance of ongoing water conservation efforts, encouraging residents to continue their daily water-saving practises in order to ensure the longevity of the water supply and play an important role in securing Cape Town’s shared water future.

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Here are some ways to use water wisely: 

Saving water in the home:

  • Showerheads must have a maximum flow rate of 7 litres per minute when new or replaced.
  • Any washbasin tap’s maximum flow rate cannot exceed 6 litres per minute.
  • The capacity of new or replaced toilet cisterns cannot exceed 6 litres.

Saving water outside:

  • Do not hose down hard-surfaced or paved areas with municipal drinking water.
  • Hosepipes must have a controlling device, such as a spray nozzle or an automatic self-closing device, installed.
  • Watering is only permitted before 9am and after 6pm to avoid evaporation losses during the day.
  • Borehole and well-point water must be used sparingly and efficiently.
  • When not in use, all swimming pools must be covered by a pool cover to prevent evaporation.
  • Automatic top-up systems that use a float valve fed by a municipal drinking water supply to supply swimming pools and garden ponds are not permitted.

Saving water in your business or organisation:

  • Handwashing basins and showers in public restrooms must have demand-type faucets.
  • Commercial car washes must follow industry best practices (such as recycling and reusing at least 50% of the water used).
  • Municipal drinking water may not be used to dampen construction sand and other building materials.
  • Urinals with automatic flushing should be replaced. Turn off the water after hours and on weekends if they cannot be replaced.
  • Ensure that toilet flush valves only flush for four seconds and urinals only flush for eight seconds.
  • Conduct regular water audits to determine which areas of your business consume the most water and to assess the effectiveness of your water-saving measures.

Find more of the City’s top ways to save water here.

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Picture: Ali Hassan / Pexels

 

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