It has finally happened.

Cape Town’s water supply has found itself down to the last 100 days and, as a result, the municipality will be bringing forward its emergency supply schemes.

According to News24, “dam storage levels have declined to 26.2%, one percentage point down from last week,” the City of Cape Town said in a statement on Monday.

And the last 10% of water supply will not be usable, which means there’s actually 16.2% left – which will last only about 100 days at current consumption levels.

Now, consumers are urged more than ever to use less than 100 litres of water per day per person to “achieve targeted reduced consumption,” explains News24:

The emergency supply schemes included the Table Mountain Group Aquifer, a small-scale desalination plant, intensifying the city’s pressure management and water demand management programmes, and a R120m small-scale wastewater reuse plant at the Zandvliet water treatment works.

The plant would produce 10 million litres of drinking water per day for the central and southern suburbs of Cape Town.

Mayoral committee member for informal settlements, water and waste services, and energy, Xanthea Limberg, said:

We will progressively intensify water restrictions and will reduce water pressure further to lower consumption, which could in cases lead to intermittent supply over larger areas of the metro at the same time.

Although the delightfully refreshing rainfall we are currently experiencing will not materially change low levels, it sure is good for ceasing evaporation.

Here’s the current sad state of Theewaterskloof:

When dams do reach below 10%, a “lifeline” water supply would be implemented:

This would involve minimal supply pressure, intermittent supply, and very stringent restrictions. People in areas with low water pressure might have to get their water from tankers.

The city council could also install water management devices for consumers who failed to limit consumption, even if they already paid the highest tariffs.

Just in case you are filling up at Newlands Spring, it too has implemented some changes:

• Water is now limited to 25 litres per person per day.
• Signage with the water wastage contact numbers, and increased lighting for night time collection in place, as well as CCTV cameras.
• There is also a new “express” tap fitted.

We’re going to get through this, but only if we all work together.

[source:news24]