Water consumption still too high

THE CITY said water consumption still remains far too high and the warm weather has exacerbated the situation.

Consumption stands at 632 million litres of collective use per day – 132 million litres above the target of 500 million litres.

Mayoral committee member for informal settlements, water and waste services and energy Xanthea Limberg said the drought was more severe than anyone foresaw, with the probability of rainfall remaining uncertain.

“To ensure that we build the necessary reserves by conserving water while we still have it, we are carrying on with intense pressure reduction to lower water use, as well as carrying out dedicated enforcement efforts across the metro.

“We are also carrying on our efforts to forcibly restrict excessive water usage.”

She said the consumption target had been worked out to ensure that there is enough water to carry the city through to next winter.

“While we have made great saving efforts and reduced consumption drastically, we need to see how we can save further.

“Even small further interventions would assist, such as reducing your weekly number of current two-minute showers by two per week, or even showering for less than two minutes.”

She is convinced that people are capable of doing even more to save water.