Cape town water restrictions
WC move to lift water restrictions worth celebrating, says MEC Bredell
For the first time in years, dams have reached a 100% capacity following good rainfall during winter.
The city said that the tariff had already been approved by council in terms of the city's 2020/21 budget.
Several dams have reached capacity following heavy winter rains this year.
In the event of future droughts, the use of terms and alarmist messages that may scare away investors and tourists should be avoided.
For the first time in years, dam levels were collectively sitting at over 90% this week, which is almost 3% fuller than the previous week.
This after some residents raised concerns about the cost of water.
City of Cape Town water and waste Mayco member Xanthea Limberg said the meeting would be held at the end of November, where the department was expected to present their modeling for the region's next hydrological year.
Parts of the Central Karoo and other farming areas in the province are still reeling from the province's worst drought in 2017.
The City of Cape Town said that it is unable to relax level 3 water restrictions at this stage with the average dam level at 47.5% and collective water consumption at 585 million litres per day.
Levels at dams supplying the city have declined by 0.8% over the past week and currently stand at 47.5% on average.
Droughts close to this magnitude have occurred in the past (for example in the late 1920s, early 1970s, and 2003 to 2004) and led to water shortages in Cape Town.
A study done by researchers at Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town found residents responded more strongly to the possibility of taps running dry than to tough water restrictions.
Over the weekend, the City of Cape Town increased the amount of water that citizens can use per day from 70 liters to 105 liters.
The restrictions and the associated tariffs will be lowered from Level 5 to Level 3 on 1 December.
The City of Cape Town has once again relaxed water restrictions to level 3.
In October, the city dropped restrictions from Level 6B to Level 5, after dams reached almost 75% capacity.
Non-native trees, which have spread from commercial plantations and seeded hillsides, are far thirstier than indigenous vegetation such as local 'fynbos' plants.
The combined Cape Town dam system is currently more than 73%.
The national Department of Water and Sanitation says dam levels are not where they should be to consider a relaxation of restrictions.