Cape Town officials are pulling out all the stops in their efforts to boost water resilience projects as fears rise that taps will run dry.
Amidst one of the worst droughts Cape Town dam levels are currently only around 30% compared to 60% the same time last year with only a month or so of the annual rain season left.
This week the city approved the creation of 43 temporary and eight permanent positions to ensure a timeous roll-out of the city’s emergency water augmentation projects.
With level 5b water restrictions in place residents in Cape Town are restricted to 87liters of water per day while all commercial properties have to reduce water usage by 20% with immediate effect.
In terms of the roll-out the City’s emergency water augmentation projects, approximately 20 tenders will be finalised and issued for the various required schemes over the next few weeks and months.
“We are committed to ensuring that Cape Town gets through this tough time with these short-term emergency supply schemes as well as getting consumption down to 500 million litres of water per day. Every bit of experience that we build up now will stand us in good stead as we try to adapt to prolonged drought conditions as part of our New Normal approach to the unpredictability of climatic conditions,” said the City’s mayoral committee member for informal settlements, water and waste services; and energy, Xanthea Limberg.
