Level 6B Water Restrictions
Category Cape Town News
LEVEL 6B WATER RESTRICTIONS
The City of Cape Town has implemented Level 6B Water Restrictions, effective from
1 February 2018 until further notice.
RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL CUSTOMERS
- No watering/irrigation with municipal drinking water allowed. This includes watering/irrigation of gardens, vegetables, agricultural crops, sports fields, golf courses, nurseries, parks and other open spaces. Nurseries and customers involved in agricultural activities or with historical
gardens may apply for exemption. For more information, visit www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater. - The use of borehole/wellpoint water for outdoor purposes, including garden use, topping up of swimming pools and hosing down surfaces, is strongly discouraged in order to prevent the depletion of aquifers in the current dire drought situation. Borehole/wellpoint water should rather be used for toilet flushing.
- Should borehore/wellpoint water be used for garden irrigation, this must be limited to a maximum of one hour only on Tuesdays and Saturdays before 09:00 or after 18:00.
- All City of Cape Town borehole and wellpoint users are expected to comply with all national Department of Water and Sanitation regulations pertaining to borehole/wellpoint usage, including the notice in Government Gazette No. 41381 (Vol. 631) of 12 January 2018. Borehole/wellpoint water use must be metered and all users are required to keep records and have these available for inspection.
- Permission from the national Department of Water and Sanitation is required in order to sell or buy borehole/wellpoint water.
- All boreholes and wellpoints must be registered with the City and must display the official City
- of Cape Town signage clearly visible from a public thoroughfare. Visit www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater for how to register.
All properties where alternative, non-drinking water resources are used (including rainwater harvesting, greywater, treated effluent water and spring water) must display signage to this effect clearly visible from a public thoroughfare. Visit www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater for further information. - No topping up (manual/automatic) filling or refilling of swimming pools with municipal drinking water is allowed.
- All private swimming pools must be fitted with a cover.
- The use of portable or any temporary play pools is prohibited.
- No washing of vehicles (including taxis), trailers, caravans and boats with municipal drinking water allowed. These must be washed with non-drinking water or cleaned with waterless products or dry steam cleaning processes. This applies to all customers, including formal and informal car washes.
- No washing or hosing down of hard-surfaced or paved areas with municipal drinking water allowed. Users, such as abattoirs, food processing industries, care facilities, animal shelters and other industries or facilities with special needs (health/safety related only) must apply for exemption. For more information, visit www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater.
- The use of municipal drinking water for ornamental water fountains or water features is prohibited.
- Customers are strongly encouraged to install water efficient parts, fittings and technologies to minimise water use at all taps, showerheads and other plumbing components.
RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
- All residents are required to use no more than 50 litres of municipal drinking water per person per day in total irrespective of whether you are at home, work or elsewhere. Therefore, a residential property with four occupants, for example, is expected to use at most 6 000 litres per month.
- Single residential properties consuming more than 10 500 litres of municipal drinking water per month will be prioritised for enforcement (see note 1). Properties where the number of occupants necessitates higher consumption are encouraged to apply for an increase in quota. For more information, visit www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater.
- Cluster developments (flats and housing complexes) consuming more than 10 500 litres of municipal drinking water per unit per month will be prioritised for enforcement (see note 1). Cluster developments where the number of occupants necessitates higher consumption are encouraged to apply for an increase in quota. For more information, visit www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater.
- You are encouraged to flush toilets (e.g. manually using a bucket) with greywater, rainwater or other non-drinking water.
- No increase of the indigent water allocation over and above the free 350 litres a day will be granted, unless through prior application and permission for specific events such as burial ceremonies.
RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO NON-RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
- All non-residential properties (e.g. commercial and industrial properties, schools, clubs and institutions) must ensure that their monthly consumption of municipal drinking water is reduced by 45% compared to the corresponding period in 2015 (pre-drought). (See note 1 below.)
- All agricultural users must ensure that their monthly consumption of municipal drinking water is reduced by 60% compared to the corresponding period in 2015 (pre-drought). (See note 1 below.)
- The operation of spray parks is prohibited.
- No new landscaping or sports fields may be established, except if irrigated only with non- drinking water.
- For users supplied with water in terms of special contracts (notarial deeds, water service intermediaries or water service providers), the contract conditions shall apply.
NOTE 1: Failure to comply will constitute an offence in terms of the Ci t y's W a t er B y -law, 2010 (or as amended). The accused will be liable to an admission of guilt fine and, in accordance with section 36(4), an installation of a water management device(s) at premises where the non- compliance occurs. The cost thereof will be billed to the relevant account holder. Customers with good reason for higher consumption need to provide the City with motivation to justify their higher consumption.
Other restrictive measures, not detailed above, as stipulated in Schedule 1 of the Water By-law,
2010 (or as amended) still apply. Exemptions issued under Levels 4B, 5 and 6 restrictions still apply, subject to review with the possibility of being revoked. Water pressure has been reduced to limit consumption and water leaks, and such may cause intermittent water supply.
For further information visit www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater or contact us at water@capetown.gov.za
WATER AND SANITATION DEPARTMENT
Author: Annenberg Property Group
