Clampdown on 50 000 high water consumers

THE CITY of Cape Town will start installing water management devices at the residences of high water consumers, starting with 2 000 a week.

The City has identified more than 50 000 consumers who are using more than 20 000 litres of water a month. They will be installing water demand devices at these properties. All devices installed on high-user connections will be set at 350 litres a day.

The Western Cape is experiencing the worst drought in a 100 years. There is only 27.5% of water left in the dams. According to the City of Cape Town, the collective consumption is standing at 622 million litres of water per day. It is 122 million litres of water above the target of 500 million litres.

Xanthea Limberg, mayoral committee member for informal settlements, water and waste services and energy, said: “It is simply too high. If consumption is not reduced, we will all suffer. There are currently more than 50 000 identified excessive-usage properties across the metro.

“High users are those using more than 20 000 litres a month, and this is also in line with the new level 5 restrictions which will penalise those using more than this volume.

“The City will aim to install about 2 000 water management devices per week over the short term. This comprises high users in the indigent and non-indigent categories.

“The processes guiding indigent persons will be followed. The City will start at the highest users and move downwards according to consumption records for those properties. Where excessive usage cannot be justified, water management devices are already being installed,” she said.

Limberg said the winter rainfall season, the lowest on record, was over.

“To get through as much of the expected harsh summer ahead, consumption must be reduced to 500 million litres per day. This target has been in place since July 1, 2017. But, as at Monday September 18, 2017, consumption was 624 million litres per day. This is our new normal…”