Think water-wise, to keep the vibe this festive season
With Cape Town experiencing below–average rainfall this year, dam levels are 15% lower than at the same time last summer. The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is calling on the public to be more water-wise, especially over the hot festive season. Let us collectively keep water use under 975 million litres per day (MLD).
Currently, the main dams supplying Cape Town are about 79,4%. While there is no immediate reason for concern, it is vital for all of us to proactively monitor and manage our water use over the coming months. This is particularly important for Cape Town this summer, in the face of unpredictable rainfall in 2026.
In October, the City’s weekly water dashboard shifted to an ‘early drought caution’. This does not mean a drought is confirmed, but it indicates signals of a possible drought cycle emerging. It allows the City to prepare early by activating internal response committees, prioritising repairs and maintenance and working closely with the National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to ensure that the water system remains well balanced.
Proactive water use target
To proactively manage our use, the City is encouraging residents and businesses to all help keep our collective water use below 975 million litres per day (MLD). If summer demand stays within this target, combined with average winter rainfall next year, Cape Town’s water supply will remain stable.
‘It is the responsible step to take now, by making an early call for Cape Town to work towards using less than the target amount of 975 MLD collectively, over the next few months, to reduce the risk of restrictions into 2027.
‘As we head into hot summer days, we have already seen a spike in water use at certain points. Consumption recently reached 1 000 million litres of water used in a day, compared to the average 850 million litres a day.
‘The main driver of peak water demand, based on previous years, is outdoor use particularly for garden irrigation and topping up swimming pools. The proactive water savings target is published weekly as a way of keeping us all accountable to use water wisely.
‘Let’s get back into the vibe of being water-wise, not only this festive and during summer, but all year round. Wise outdoor water use, fixing leaks and complying with permanent regulations are key ways to save.
‘City teams will also continue to action our own programmes to ensure that we save water too with our infrastructure,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
Hydrological year summary
DWS met with the City and other water users in the Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS) recently in preparation for the Annual Operating Analysis (AOA) – which assesses the availability and security of water supply in the system.
Factors considered in determining whether there is a cause for concern include:
- Current and previous year’s dam levels
- Rainfall patterns in the current and following years
- Water demand, especially over the hot summer months
Although some parts of the metro may have experienced good rainfall this year, 2025 has been a below-average rainfall year in our major supply catchments like Wemmershoek.
The City’s Commitment to Water Resilience
The City is actively working to enhance our water resilience through ongoing initiatives, including:
- Leak Detection and Infrastructure Upgrades: Proactive programmes to detect and repair leaks, replace ageing pipes, and implement pressure control measures.
- Community Education: Our public awareness team, alongside Manzi, the City’s water mascot, continues to educate communities, including schools, about water-wise actions.
- New Water Programme: A long-term project to diversify our water sources and add 300 million litres of water per day to the network by shortly after 2030, including water reuse, desalination, and groundwater extraction.
- Alien Vegetation Clearing: A partnership with The Nature Conservancy, supported by a R125 million investment over five years, is clearing thirsty alien invasive plants to increase water reaching our dams.
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