Level 6 water restrictions hit Cape Town — as well as a ‘drought levy’
Capetonians will have to reduce water use even more in the new year. The City of Cape Town’s level 6 restrictions‚ which will come into force on January 1‚ will restrict residential households to 10‚500 litres a month and compel non-residential customers to cut their water consumption by 45% compared with 2015. The agricultural sector has been ordered to reduce water usage by 60%‚ sparking a warning on Tuesday from Agri-Western Cape spokesperson Jeanne Boshoff that farmers would have to restrict themselves to higher-value crops. “This has already resulted in less vegetables being planted in the Ceres area‚ and to fruit trees being cut back. This means smaller crops‚ which is putting the entire agricultural sector in the Western Cape under enormous pressure‚” she said. A notice in the Government Gazette said: “In view of the ongoing dire drought situation‚ the director, water and sanitation of the City of Cape Town hereby gives notice of level 6 water restrictions and measures.”
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