Cape dam levels plummet amid heatwave

With temperatures soaring to over 40°C this week and the dam water levels plummeting, residents are bracing for the worst.

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Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, emphasised the importance of smarter water usage by residents and businesses during this critical period.

He confirmed that dam storage sits at just 51.8%, with the city using about 1,000 megaliters of water per day.

“We anticipate that by May, our dam levels will reach 40%. That pressure remains on us to adjust water usage at this moment so that we can try and push back those [water] restrictions as far as possible… But as it stands, it may be that those restrictions are moved up to as early as June.”

While the City continues to monitor the situation, Badroodien encourages residents to use water sparingly.

He noted that businesses are working to offset their water usage by making use of alternative water sources, such as the City’s treated effluent.

“[But] 70% of water usage happens in our homes, and the City is appealing for a slight reduction, about 10%, and that is through simple interventions.

“We are working to avoid any restrictions, but it depends on us working together. The City is making sure we fix our leaks, and residents are helping us to reduce water usage in our homes.”

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To listen to Badroodien in conversation with CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit, use the audio player below: