The City of Cape Town says recent hot weather has driven a sharp increase in water demand, prompting renewed calls for residents to be more water-wise.
Dam storage for the metro is now nearly 19% lower than at the same time last year. Current levels sit at 69.1%, which must last until the next winter rainfall season.
Consumption over the festive period repeatedly exceeded the city’s daily target of under 975 million litres per day.
Daily water use by Capetonians as a collective:
10 December 2025 – 1 029 MLD
15 December 2025 – 1029 MLD
22 December 2025 – 1039 MLD
29 December 2025 – 1010 MLD
05 January 2026 – 1048 MLD
A new ‘Day Zero’?
The warning has brought back memories of the Cape Town Water Crisis of 2015 – 2020. During that period, prolonged drought pushed the city to the brink of “Day Zero” — a projected date when taps would run dry.
Disaster was averted thanks to massive water savings (halving consumption), new water sources, public awareness campaigns and eventually, good winter rainfall.
Nonetheless, the experience still stands as a stark reminder of Cape Town’s fragile water security.
While officials stress that taps are not about to run dry in 2025, they warn the situation could change quickly if high usage continues.
“This is a critical moment for us, where we must reduce the unnecessary litres of water used in our homes, in industrial and agricultural processes and at work,” said Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayco Member for Water and Sanitation.
“We can’t afford to be complacent any longer and we must closely keep track of consumption indicators on a weekly basis.”
Households use the most water
According to the City, households remain the biggest culprits, accounting for about 70% of total consumption.
Residents are being asked to fix leaks, avoid unnecessary pool top-ups and only water their gardens at night to prevent evaporation.
Large water users (industry, sports/golf clubs, large new developments) are also encouraged to switch to treated effluent for irrigation and construction where possible.
The City says it is continuing to repair ageing pipes, manage pressure and respond faster to leaks across the network.
Looking ahead, Cape Town is working on long-term plans to reduce reliance on rain-fed dams. These include future desalination and water reuse projects, scheduled to add new supply from 2031.
“Early proactive measures are far more effective than emergency restrictions,” Badroodien added. “We need to be water-wise at all times.”
Burst municipal pipes meanwhile must be reported as soon as they are spotted, via the City’s official channels:
Call 086 010 3089
SMS 31373
WhatsApp 063 407 3699
Email water@capetown.gov.za
