Tag Archives: water

Bad news: Shifting DayZero out to 2019 leads to an increase in Cape Town water consumption!

Many personal discussions about Cape Town’s water shortage have questioned the wisdom of extending DayZero to 2019, a move which was seen by many as politically motivated, an announcement which was made two weeks ago by DA Leader Mmusi Maimane. This ‘generosity’ of DayZero appears to have backfired, as water consumption has increased in the week since the DayZero extension.  Continue reading →

Water-wise Cape Town Cycle Tour 2018: where are the cyclists hiding?

Tomorrow the 40th Cape Town Cycle Tour, more commonly referred to as The Argus after its former media sponsor, will be held in Cape Town, a year after the race had to be called off due to extreme wind speeds. No such action is likely tomorrow. The event planners have gone out of their way to make it as water-friendly as possible. It is surprising that Cape Town appears so empty, and that so few cyclists have been seen on the roads this year. Continue reading →

Water #DayZero moved to summer 2019, depending on winter rainfall and water saving!

Last week’s Water Statement by the City of Cape Town was uncharacteristic in two respects: it was only issued on Thursday instead of the usual Tuesday; and #DayZero was not moved forward or backward for the first time since the weekly Water Statements were issued.  The latest statement appears to suggest that #DayZero may move into later in 2018, or even into 2019.
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DayZero moved out to 4 June! Water savings start to make a difference!

The Deputy Mayor of Cape Town, Alderman Ian Neilson, must be very chuffed with his performance in managing the water situation of Cape Town, DayZero being moved out each week since he has taken over this hot seat from Mayor Patricia de Lille!  On Tuesday DayZero was moved out to 4 June.  Continue reading →

Day Zero moves out by almost a month to 11 May, due to water saving by agricultural sector in the main!

What a good news message from the City of Cape Town yesterday, in its weekly Water feedback to its residents and to businesses. Cape Town Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson announced that it is the reduced usage by the agricultural sector that is allowing the positive water supply projection, extending Day Zero by almost a month, from 16 April to 11 May. An article I found on Facebook provides additional good news to the water projection, it not being clear if this has been factored into the latest Day Zero calculation.  Punitive water tariffs since 1 February may also slowly  be starting to show their effect. Continue reading →

Water Day Zero brought forward by nine days, to 12 April 2018!

For the first time Cape Town Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson has issued a statement about the City of Cape Town’s dire water shortage situation, after taking over the responsibility for the water situation for the city, as well as its communication. Current Mayor Patricia de Lille has been suspended from all water-related issues and its communication! Sadly the Deputy Mayor has announced that water-saving measures are not meeting targets, and therefore Day Zero has been brought forward by nine days to 12 April, from 21 April previously!  Continue reading →

Tourists encouraged to assist in saving water whilst holidaying in Cape Town, ‘Day Zero’ looms!

Day Zero’ – the day on which Cape Town will run out of water unless consumption is curbed further – has been extended from March to May 2018. Confusing is that the date of Day Zero varies within May, but a discussion on Kfm highlighted that the water usage in Cape Town increased since the postponement of ‘Day Zero’ to May, which could move ‘Day Zero’ back to April! Tourist arrivals and their water usage in our Summer Season is a grave concern to Capetonians.  Continue reading →

Cape Town water supply Day Zero estimate was extended by two months, to 13 May 2018, now reduced to 3 May!

Yesterday I attended the launch of a water saving awareness campaign initiated in the heart of Cape Town by Urban Lime, on Church Square. Mayor Patricia de Lille announced that the City of Cape Town’s recent forecast of an extension of the water supply ‘Day Zero’ by two months, to 13 May, has been amended to 3 May 2018, given an increase in water consumption during the recent rain.  Continue reading →