"Despite our urging for months, 60% of Capetonians are callously using more than 87 litres per day... At this point we must assume that they will not change their behaviour and that the chance of reaching Day Zero on 21 April 2018 is now very likely," she said, warning that while the city's seven augmentation projects will make it more water resilient in the future, it would not be enough to stop Day Zero - the day the municipal water system to households will be switched off.
The severity of the crisis has necessitated the introduction of a series of new emergency measures, she said, including a potential punitive tariff which will be voted on at the meeting on Friday. The proposed punitive tariff will see residents charged exponentially higher rates for water usage above 6,000 litres per month - households larger than four people will be exempt.
De Lille also noted that the proposed drought levy that saw a massive outcry from the public is likely to be dropped. However, she said, the city is now "going to have to make deep cuts to important projects".
The city will be implementing level 6B water restrictions from 1 February 2018, with a new limit set at 50 litres per person per day. The new daily collective consumption target of 450-million litres per day will be in place for 150 days, after which the city will reassess the situation, said De Lille.
Planning for Day Zero has been advanced with approximately 200 sites having been assessed. "The city will be announcing everyone’s local collection points from next week so that communities can begin preparing for that eventuality," she said. "We will also be making detailed Day Zero contingency plans available soon to answer all questions that residents and businesses might have."
