Cape Town's water crisis: How residents can help reduce daily consumption

The City of Cape Town has renewed its call for water-wise behaviour after average daily water consumption exceeded the city’s summer usage target.

The City has set a collective daily usage target of less than 975 million litres per day (MLD) for the summer season to reduce the risk posed by below-average or unpredictable rainfall in 2026 and to maintain a reliable water supply.

As of Wednesday, December 31,  2025, average water usage stood at 1 025MLD, while the City’s dam levels were recorded at 70.5%.

Climate change continues to alter rainfall patterns in the Western Cape, with scientists warning of longer dry spells, more intense but less frequent rainfall, and higher evaporation rates during hotter summers. These shifts make dam replenishment increasingly unpredictable and raise the risk of extended water stress.

“Currently the City’s main supply dams are 19.2% lower than last year at this time, and as a city we have collectively and consistently been using over 1 000 million litres of water daily,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.

“While there is no immediate reason for concern, all Capetonians, visitors and businesses are encouraged to carefully manage their water use over the coming months.”

The City has reminded residents to adopt practical water-saving measures, including taking shorter stop-start showers, washing laundry and dishes only when necessary, turning off taps and hoses when not in use, watering gardens outside peak heat hours, and covering swimming pools to limit evaporation.

Officials stressed that early and sustained reductions in water use are critical to protecting water security, reducing the likelihood of sudden restrictions, and ensuring sufficient reserves should rainfall in 2026 fall below average.

Cape Town is also continuing to invest in long-term supply solutions through its New Water Programme, which includes water reuse, desalination and groundwater projects. However, the City cautioned that these initiatives take time to implement.

“Saving water now is how we protect our city tomorrow,” the City said, urging residents and businesses to remain water-wise throughout the summer.

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Cape Argus