Cape Town city residents can expect water restrictions from November if forecasts for below normal rainfall conditions in Cape Town from August through to October turn out to be true, government news agency Buanews said on Wednesday.
The South African Weather Service is forecasting a 35% probability of normal rainfall occurring and only a 15% chance of above average rainfall occurring during the same months.
As at July 25, Wemmershoek and Steenbras dams, which supply the Cape Metropolitan areas, had received significantly less rainfall compared to a long-term average.
”If the current assessment underway predicts that the accumulated storage capacity of the dams supplying the city of Cape Town will not reach a target level of 85% it is anticipated that Department of Water Affairs and Forestry will impose water restrictions for the coming summer with effect from November 1,” Buanews said.
The Department is facilitating the formation of task teams to develop a drought preparedness strategy in order to help the reduction in water demand in the event that water restrictions are imposed. – I-Net Bridge