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Cape Town Water Restrictions 2018

  • 2018-01-19

As of 1 January 2018, Level 6 Cape Town water restrictions were announced. At the end of the month, Level 6B restrictions will be implemented. The City of Cape Town has begun to announce its water crisis plan that includes some very scary potential measures to try and address the current drought. With every update that is released, international guests and holiday rental property owners alike are starting to feel concerned. What do the new restrictions mean exactly, and what can we expect as we get closer to Day Zero?

Cape Town Water Restrictions 2018

Before we share some of the latest guidelines and the current Level 6 Cape Town water restrictions, it is highly important to note that although the situation is serious, panic and misinformation will only make matters worse. The city is doing what it can to avoid or at least lessen the impact of Day Zero, the day that the city may run out of water.

Level 6 Cape Town Water Restrictions: What to Expect

To help you better understand the current restrictions, here are a few things to note.

  • The daily allowance per person is currently 87 litres per day. When we move to Level 6B restrictions, this will decrease to 50 litres per person per day. Although that seems like hardly any water at all, it is enough for drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene and cleaning.
  • Properties exceeding 10,500 litres per month could be fitted with a water management device. This will reduce the pressure of the water once the monthly allowance has been reached. Currently, this will only apply to households exceeding the recommended allowance.
  • The use of borehole and groundwater is not advised – especially for gardens and swimming pools. This is because groundwater will eventually also become limited. Once the dams are close to empty, groundwater will be in limited supply. Now is the time to think about water-wise gardens and other features.
  • The city has announced a disaster management plan that could include collection points. Some 200 points have been earmarked for potential collection. The CBD will not be included in the collection point plan however as it is a major commercial area that cannot survive without running water.
  • As with the 2017 water restrictions, topping up of swimming pools and watering of gardens is no longer permitted. Rainwater can, however, be harvested, stored and used for this purpose. Guests will need to be informed that swimming pools and gardens may not be in use during their stay at your establishment.

It is vital that you stay updated on the current water crisis in order to inform your guests and help them prepare for their stay. Despite the uncertainty, there is no reason to panic at this stage. What is important is that every property owner works together to do whatever they can to save water. This is the best way to get through the current drought. Working together, we may be able to survive Cape Town water restrictions 2018.