The Water Situation in Cape Town

1/31/2018

Many readers have learned that there is a severe water shortage in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Insufficient rainfall and fast declining dam levels have led to the current unprecedented water crisis, according to City officials. In 2014, the dams were 87.9 per cent full. After three years of consecutive droughts, they are now below 30 percent, with only about 19.7 percent of that water considered usable. Officials reassure that the water quality is being checked constantly and all water from Cape Town taps is safe to drink.

 "At the current rate the city is likely to reach Day Zero on 22 April," said Xanthea Limberg, Cape Town's mayoral committee member for water. This is the day the water will be shut off to residential areas. However, the City of Cape Town recently announced that the Central Business District (which includes the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront) will be exempt from Day Zero ramifications. As all Classic Africa clients stay within this area, their visit to the "Mother City" will not be negatively affected -  guests should just be aware that swimming pools, steam rooms and saunas may be closed, they will be requested to shower instead of bath, and the gardens and lawns of hotels may not be watered and lush.
 
In the spirit of conservation, visitors are asked to adopt the approach launched by the City of Cape Town to "Save like a Local."  This can be accomplished by limiting showers to two minutes, closing the taps when brushing teeth, reusing towels instead of asking for newly laundered ones, and reporting leaks or dripping taps to hotel management.