Cape Town Announces ‘Considerably’ Reduced Water Costs and 105 Litres Per Person Per Day. Welcome Level 3

The festive season just got merrier for Capetonians as the City of Cape Town announced that water users can expect a “considerable reduction” in the cost of water from next month! This is due to water restrictions being lowered from Level 5 to Level 3 from Saturday 1 December 2018. It’ll also mean the allowance of 70 litres per person per day is lifted to 105 litres.

The City views 2019 as a recovery year after having successfully emerged from the unprecedented drought, the City of Cape Town said in a media release on Thursday morning.

Cape Town’s Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato, said: “I know it has been tough and I hope that this reduction in tariffs will bring some comfort over the festive season.”

The reduction in tariffs means that if for example residents use less than 6 000 litres per month they can expect to pay 35,5% less.

The Mayor did caution however that Capetonians (and visitors) “will still need to be water-wise though, as we do not know what the next rainy season holds.” (Capetonians have become world famous for being water saviour warriors!)

The decision to lower restrictions was made after a meeting between the National Department of Water and Sanitation and the water users of the Western Cape Water Supply System.

Based on National Government’s assessment of the hydrological year, a saving of between 10% and 20% for urban water users has been proposed. However, the City has decided to implement a more cautious 30% saving to help with the recovery of the dams and to cater for the uncertainty that exists around rainfall volumes and frequency in 2019… after what it’s gone through in recent years.

Cape Town’s Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato, said:

I want to thank all the residents, officials, and visitors to Cape Town who played their part in helping us get through one of the worst droughts this city has ever seen.

While the drought is not yet over, we have seen that there is room to bring some relief to our residents.

I know it has been tough and I hope that this reduction in tariffs will bring some comfort over the festive season. We will still need to be water-wise though, as we do not know what the next rainy season holds.

We are no longer in a period of extreme scarcity, but it does not mean that we should forego some of the great water-wise ways that we have made a part of our daily lives – and for which we have become world famous.

We are situated in a water-scarce region and the water-wise efforts and ways to diversify and augment our water supply should and will continue.

If one looks at international drought experience, water restrictions are either implemented too late or lifted too early. Hence our decision to take a conservative approach to the recovery while we continue to monitor the situation.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services; and Energy, Councillor Xanthea Limberg added:

This is not only a period of recovery for our dams, but also for our economy as a whole as well as for our residents and businesses who truly made huge sacrifices to help us get Cape Town through the drought.

The agricultural sector will only reduce water usage by 10% as it too enters a period of recovery.

Important for Capetonians to know:

• From Saturday 1 December 2018, water restrictions and the associated tariffs will be lowered from Level 5 to Level 3 recovery restrictions, which includes increasing the daily usage from 70 litres per person per day to 105 litres per person per day; or from 500 million litres to 650 million litres of collective usage per day
• Tariffs will also be lowered to Level 3. If for example residents use less than 6 000 litres per month (Step 1) they can expect to pay 35,5% less
• This decision follows on from the National Department of Water and Sanitation’s latest water assessment
• Restrictions remain on a fairly strict recovery level as a precaution to deal with rainfall uncertainty in 2019 and 2020
• Cape Town’s water ambassadors are encouraged to maintain their water-wise approach during the recovery phase and as the metro moves towards becoming a more water-sensitive city in the near future
• The 40% restriction on water usage applicable to businesses has been removed but the sector is strongly encouraged to continue implementing and investigating the further efficient use of water in their operations

Source: Media Office, City of Cape Town