Kirsten Jacobs

After months of residents calling for an end to water restrictions following the dams reaching full capacity, the City has officially decided to lift restrictions and lower tariffs from November 1.

The decision was reached on Tuesday, October 20 when the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee (Mayco) unanimously supported the City’s decision to lift water restrictions in Cape Town and to move to the lowest tariff, being the no restriction, water-wise tariff.

The decision to lift water restrictions and lower water tariffs is based on the following three key considerations:

– The National Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) lifting of its restrictions applicable to the Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS) of shared dams, of which Cape Town is one of the users. Overall, the WCWSS dam levels reached 100%

– City projections indicating dams are unlikely to drop below 50% by next winter. The lifting of all restriction measures, except for existing water regulations permanently in place due to the proactive management of water resources, will allow for water-wise usage, in line with the lowest tariff, which is slightly lower than the current, second-lowest tariff level

– City projections also indicating the latest anticipated water usage patterns for the coming summer will be sufficient to allow the lowering of water and sanitation tariffs from the second-lowest tariff to the lowest, no restriction water-wise tariff level. These tariffs are already part of the Council-approved budget for the 2020/21 financial year, which followed due process including a public participation process

“The Mayco has noted the expert advice from the City’s Water and Sanitation Department and we support its decision to lift the water restrictions and to lower the water and sanitation tariff to the lowest approved level by Council,” said the City’s Executive Mayor, Dan Plato.

“Apart from the dams filling up to capacity and beyond in recent weeks, this is another moment to be celebrated as, in a few short years: we have gone from the worst drought to face our city and a potential water ‘Day Zero’, to full dams and zero water restrictions besides the need to stay water-wise. We are situated in a water-scarce region so we will always need to ensure we are sustainable and future-fit.”

Plato adds that the tariff has already been approved by Council as part of the set of tariffs for the City’s 2020/21 budget.

“This lowest tariff will offer residents some financial relief while ensuring we can still provide reliable water services and invest in new water sources. Tariffs are set to cover the cost of providing water and sanitation. This includes the maintenance of infrastructure and making sure Cape Town is resilient by investing in and adding new sources to its water supply and becoming a water-sensitive city,” he said.

Earlier this year, the City’s ambitious roadmap to resilience, the Water Strategy was launched, which seeks to ensure that there will be sufficient water for all in our future, and Cape Town will be more resilient to climate change and other shocks.

The City has already been actioning the Water Strategy as 15-million litres of groundwater per day have come online from the Table Mountain Group Aquifer while other projects, including permanent desalination and water reuse, are also being planned.

“Going forward, as a City, we will continue to implement cost-saving and water-wise plans and encourage Cape Town to continue to be water smart. What our residents may not know is that City water costs on average 4c per litre in comparison to approximately R10 per litre for shop-bought bottled water. Thank you, Team Cape Town, for using water responsibly and also for paying your water and sanitation accounts, which contributes to providing and maintaining a sustainable, reliable water service for all,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, Xanthea Limberg.

Read the original story here.