Cape Town remains gripped by critical water shortages despite being lashed by torrential rains last week in the region’s worst storm in 30 years, officials said on Tuesday. More than eight people were killed and thousands forced from their homes after gale force winds and flash floods hit informal settlements already coping with Cape Town’s worst drought in a century. "It may take a few seasons of normal rainfall for the dams to recover, and therefore continuing to cut water use drastically is vital," said Xanthea Limberg, the city’s mayoral committee member responsible for water services. Limberg said if rainfall did not significantly boost dam levels, Cape Town could run out of water by September. Dams supplying Cape Town’s residents, who face mandatory water restrictions, are lying at 21.2% capacity, or an effective 11.2%, as the last 10% of the dam’s water is unusable, officials said. Limberg said the city expected a new pilot desalination plant, capable of producing 2-million l...
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