CITY OF CAPE TOWN IN 'EARLY DROUGHT CAUTION'

THE City of Cape Town has warned the public to be more water-wise, with dam levels 15 percent lower than at the same time last summer in ‘early drought caution’. 

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate reported that the main dams supplying Cape Town are about 79.4 percent. 

They have called for residents and businesses to keep water use under 975 million litres per day (MLD).

The City added: “This is particularly important for Cape Town this summer, in the face of unpredictable rainfall in 2026.”

In October, the City’s weekly water dashboard shifted to an ‘early drought caution’. This does not mean a drought is confirmed, but it indicates signals of a possible drought cycle emerging. 

It allows the City to prepare early by activating internal response committees, prioritising repairs and maintenance and working closely with the National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to ensure that the water system remains well balanced.

 Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien said: ‘It is the responsible step to take now, by making an early call for Cape Town to work towards using less than the target amount of 975 MLD collectively, over the next few months, to reduce the risk of restrictions into 2027.

 ‘As we head into hot summer days, we have already seen a spike in water use at certain points. Consumption recently reached 1 000 million litres of water used in a day, compared to the average 850 million litres a day.

 ‘The main driver of peak water demand, based on previous years, is outdoor use particularly for garden irrigation and topping up swimming pools. The proactive water savings target is published weekly as a way of keeping us all accountable to use water wisely.

‘Let’s get back into the vibe of being water-wise, not only this festive and during summer, but all year round. Wise outdoor water use, fixing leaks and complying with permanent regulations are key ways to save.

“City teams will also continue to action our own programmes to ensure that we save water too with our infrastructure.”