Drinking water use in Cape Town is further limited

cape town - As a result of the drought in the Cape Town region, the consumption of drinking water in the South African metropolis is further limited. From January 1, 2018, a resident of Cape Town may not use more than an average of forty liters of water per day. That is halving the current permitted quantity.

The authorities require that each household reduces its consumption in the month of January to a maximum of 10,500 liters. Households who consume more than an average of 40 liters of water per person per day are subject to penalties or the supply of water is limited. Approximately 120 liters of water per person per day are consumed in the Netherlands.

Parts of South Africa struggle with the most serious drought since time immemorial. Companies also have to drastically reduce their consumption in January with, depending on the type of company, between 45 and 60 percent.

Cape Town has around 4.5 million inhabitants and millions of tourists come every year. The reservoirs that provide the city with water are still filled for only a third. If the drought persists, the city seems to be heading towards a dramatic 'Day Zero' at the end of April. That is the day that no more water comes out of the tap. The inhabitants then have to go to two hundred distribution points where the police and military distribute minimum rations of water.

Mayor Patricia de Lille hopes that there will be no rows of people in distribution centers in April, but then drinking very quickly with drinking water will have to be very economical. De Lille has pointed out that 'Day Zero' can be prevented and further restriction is possible. In current rationing, the municipality still assumes that the average number of people per household is too high.