Cape Town residents are being urged to use water sparingly as the city replenishes its water supply systems. The City of Cape Town has issued an urgent appeal for residents to reduce water consumption following a combination of pipeline repairs and scheduled maintenance that has placed a significant strain on the municipal water supply system.
According to information provided to Primedia Plus, the water system constraints stem from two concurrent issues: a repaired burst on the critical Voëlvlei main and planned maintenance at the Flora Water Treatment Plant, the city’s largest water facility. The Voëlvlei main, a 1.5-meter diameter pipeline, feeds Cape Town from the Voëlvlei dam.
Municipal officials describe the notice as ‘precautionary’ but essential while reservoir storage levels remain at approximately 50%, well below the preferred 70% emergency buffer. Michael Killick, Director of Bulk Services: Water & Sanitation for the City of Cape Town, explained that the situation developed after a burst on the Voëlvlei main on August 15th.
The planned maintenance at the Flora Water Treatment Plant, which includes cleaning of a 600 mega-litre reservoir, has temporarily taken significant capacity offline, but it is currently being scheduled to be back online today. This maintenance, along with the pipeline repair, has caused concern as the metro tried to keep the bulk water storage level at around 70%, just in case of emergencies.
Killick noted that this combination of events has dropped the system’s storage to about 50% while they’re undergoing planned maintenance, creating the need for conservation measures. The city’s daily water consumption is approximately 815 mega litres per day at the moment.
What You Can Do
- Take shorter showers.
- Fix leaky faucets.
- Use water-efficient appliances.
- Collect rainwater for gardening.
Stay Informed
Residents are encouraged to stay updated on the situation through official City of Cape Town announcements and local news outlets. By working together, Cape Town can overcome this challenge and ensure a sustainable water supply for the future.