WATCH: Still scarred by ‘Day Zero’, Cape Town anxiously eyes plummeting dam levels

As Cape Town faces increasingly dry conditions, concerns about water security are mounting. Over the past few weeks, dam levels have been steadily dropping at a rate of 1.5% to 1.7% weekly, with the city consistently exceeding its target usage of 950 million litres per day for four consecutive weeks.

The city's water dashboard has shifted to an ‘early drought caution’, though officials maintain this doesn't confirm a drought but rather signals the possibility of one. While dam levels were above 80% on 1 November, this critical threshold, which typically triggers restriction considerations from the Department of Water and Sanitation, will likely be breached within two weeks.

"Our dams are lowering at about 1% to 1.5% each week, and so the 80% will be reached within the next two weeks," warns Kevin Winter from the University of Cape Town’s Future Water Institute. "Let's hope that both the Department of Water and Sanitation and the city start to actually make a much bigger noise about it."

Many residents remain unaware that certain water restrictions are permanentlyin place, regardless of dam levels. These include watering gardens only before 9 am or after 6 pm, mandatory pool covers, and flow-rate limitations on shower heads and taps. However, enforcement of these measures appears minimal, with thousands of uncovered swimming pools visible across the peninsula.

The unusual weather patterns may be exacerbating the situation. October saw unusually windy conditions, which Winter notes significantly impacts dam evaporation rates: "I wonder how many days we already have when the wind is reaching 20 knots or more, and that has a major effect on the evaporation of our dams. I think this is a wake-up call in terms of this is maybe where some of the climate change is occurring."

Questions persist about the city's approach to water conservation. Some residents speculate that financial considerations influence policy decisions, suggesting the municipality might be reluctant to restrict water usage because it generates revenue. Winter acknowledges these concerns but believes there's more nuance to the situation, noting that city officials demonstrate genuine responsibility toward water management.

As Cape Town approaches what Winter calls the ‘drought response level’, memories of the 2018 ‘Day Zero’ crisis loom large. That severe drought caught the city unprepared, leading to stringent water restrictions and widespread anxiety about taps running dry.

With the busy tourism season approaching and municipal elections on the horizon, the city faces difficult decisions about implementing potentially unpopular water restrictions. The coming weeks will reveal whether officials heed these early warning signs with appropriate urgency or risk repeating past mistakes.

For the complete discussion on Cape Town's water situation and expert insights from Winter, be sure to listen to the interview below in which he explores what residents can expect in the coming months: