According to the City of Cape Town’s modelling, Day Zero – the projected date when the city would cut the ordinary supply of water to its citizens – will not take place this year.
This achievement is due to residents, businesses, farmers and visitors pulling together to drastically reduce their consumption by 57% in three years.
It is also dependent on a continuation of the historic savings in consumption – but we cannot ease up on our efforts yet.
“Today it is clear that every person who has helped save water is a hero in their own right, and we thank them for their efforts in recent weeks.
By working together to beat Day Zero, we have built a water-smart destination that will be a beacon of hope for many other places around the world that will face the effects of climate change.”
The City of Cape Town’s announcement follows its “worst-case scenario” model – that assumes no rain at all – now predicting the dam levels to only fall below 13.5% towards the end of August. The Cape region experiences winter rainfall, usually beginning in May, and lasting well into August. When this is factored in – together with the record low levels of consumption, reductions in water usage by agriculture, transfers from other water systems, and the alternative water supplies that are coming online – it is now clear that the taps will stay open this year.
All residents, visitors and businesses must, however, continue to save water to ensure that these historically low consumption levels are maintained.
“I would therefore like to urge all Capetonians not to relax their savings efforts. While we are feeling more confident of avoiding Day Zero this year, we cannot predict the volume of rainfall still to come. If winter rainfall this year is as low as last year, or even lower, we are still in danger of reaching Day Zero early next year.
Now is the time to entrench our water saving habits and ensure that the behavioural shift we have undergone in the past months becomes second nature.”
Capetonians should be proud of what they have achieved so far. According to comparative research, the city has set a world-class standard, reducing its consumption by nearly 60% in just 3 years. Melbourne reduced their consumption by half after 12 years, and regions like California, achieved reductions of under 30%. The response to the drought crisis now has to move to a culture of sustainable and ef cient water-use.
“We urge all residents and visitors, and the private and public sectors, to continue to work together in building a water resilient destination. If we continue on this successful path, we will become global leaders in the ght against climate change, and will build a destination that is even more attractive to visit, live, work, play and invest in.”
The City is continuing to roll out its pressure demand management programme, and installing water meters at the homes of high water users. Together with the residents, Cape Town can bring consumption down to the required 450 MLD.
“If we redouble our efforts to ensure that every single resident uses no more than 50 litres of water a day, we will not only beat Day Zero this year but also avoid it next year.”
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