City proposes lowering of water restrictions

#EveryDropCounts. Picture: Bongani Shilubane/ANA
Recent rains have resulted in dam levels exceeding 60% for the first time in almost two years. Now, the City of Cape Town, on a risk-based analysis, has proposed to the National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) that the water restriction levels should be conservatively and marginally relaxed. 

The proposal was made during a meeting with the DWS and other users within the Western Cape Water Supply System on Friday August 24, to review the current status of water in the dam system.

The City’s proposal is that the urban restriction be relaxed from 45% to 40% and the agricultural restriction be relaxed from 60% to 50%.

This proposal was supported by the other municipalities in the system. Agriculture representatives motivated for a greater relaxation for agriculture.

The DWS undertook to give a response by Friday August 31.