Drought-stricken Cape Town has pushed back its estimate for "day zero" to 2019 from August 2018 — and data show dam levels rising elsewhere in the country. An El Niño-triggered drought two years ago hit agricultural production and economic growth throughout the country. Cape Town was particularly hard hit, and lack of good subsequent rains around the city has made its water shortage worse. The City of Cape Town said on its website that day zero (when taps in the city run dry and people start queuing for water) had been "pushed out to 2019". Residents have been living with stringent consumption restrictions, which now stand at 50 litres per person per day. Those restrictions remain in effect. Dam levels for the Western Cape province, which includes Cape Town, were at 18.3% last week compared with 19% the week before, according to the Department of Water Affairs. Elsewhere, the water situation has been improving. The Vaal Dam, a major supply source for Gauteng was at 94.7%, up from 83...
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