New water rules for homeowners

New water rules for homeowners

Category News

Cape Town’s dam levels are around 60% full - far above their volumes from just a few months ago. However, the City of Cape Town is urging residents to keep up their water-saving efforts to avoid being back in the same dire situation in the future.

Day Zero seems like an empty threat now but Cape Town is still likely to experience a water-scarce future. Homeowners and residents can enjoy a more steady supply of water for the time being, but must still aim to save as much water where possible.

City of Cape Town announces new water by-laws

The municipality announced new water guidelines for residential homeowners that came into effect at the start of July 2018. These new amendments do not replace the current water restrictions as those are still in effect.

“I would like to assure residents that all amendments made to the by-law have been included to strengthen the resilience of our built environment to the effects of water scarcity and ultimately protect our ability to safeguard public and environmental health,” says mayoral committee member for informal settlements, water and waste services councillor Xanthea Limberg.

“Given the current uncertainty around future rainfall patterns in the Western Cape, it is essential that the city’s residents are water-aware at all times, including once water restrictions are lifted, and that the city can act effectively to reduce and prevent waste,” she says.

“These amendments will assist the City to better protect our water resources so our City is more resilient when drought does strike,” says Limberg. Level 6 water restrictions are still in effect throughout Cape Town.

New water rules that you need to know

• Landlords must keep a record of consumption for each residential unit in a multi-tenant complex or block of flats, and inform the city if tenants are breaking water restrictions.

• Potable (drinking) water storage tanks must be impervious to sunlight to prevent the growth of bacteria.

• No cross-connection must exist on private property between potable and non-potable water systems.

• No irrigation of gardens is allowed between 9am and 6pm, including from boreholes and wells. Watering gardens in the heat of the day can result in significant water lost to evaporation.

• The maximum capacity for toilet cisterns and shower head flow has been lowered. Toilets are now only allowed a maximum six-litre cistern volume and water from shower heads must flow out at no more than seven litres per minute. Only when it comes time to replace toilets and shower heads (due to age or malfunction) must new parts that conform with the revised standards be fitted.

• All automatic flushing cisterns fitted to urinals must be replaced immediately with either manually operated systems or properly maintained non-manual apparatus which causes the flushing device to operate only after each use. This is especially necessary for public facilities such as restaurants and shopping centres.

• All pools must be fitted with a cover to avoid evaporation when not in use.

• New property developments must install water conservation management systems or alternative water systems, and these must be approved by the city before the development proceeds.

• The city is now able to remove plumbers from its register and institute legal action if they are found to have transgressed the water by-law.

• A prepayment meter is now an option, in addition to the water management device, as a council water meter. While this technology is not yet available in the city, having this item of legislation in the by-law allows the city to make use of it in the future.

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Author: Seeff