Water saving tips

Poor rainfall, extremely low dam levels, as well as a hot and dry summer season, has increased our need to continuously save water. For us to make sure that we have enough water available in our dams for everyone in our province, we all need to do our part to use water sparingly and adhere to the water restrictions which are in place.

As from 1 February 2018, the City of Cape Town has implemented level 6B water restrictions as a result of not enough water being saved.

The do’s and don’ts to save water

1. You're not allowed to water/irrigate with municipal drinking water. This includes the watering/irrigation of flower beds, lawns, vegetables, agricultural crops, other plants, sports fields, golf courses, schools, learning institutions facilities, nurseries, parks and other open spaces. (Nurseries and customers involved in agricultural activities or with historical gardens may apply for exemption (visit the City of Cape Town website for the application process).
2. Please use municipal drinking water, at 50 litres or less per person per day.
3. No watering/irrigation with municipal drinking water allowed. (facilities/users making use of boreholes, treated effluent water, spring water or well points are encouraged not to water/irrigate within seven days after rainfall that provided adequate saturation).
4. All well points and boreholes must be registered with the City and used efficiently to avoid wastage and evaporation. 
5. If alternative water sources are utilised, ensure that you display signage which is clearly visible from a public road or street. Visit www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater for how to register.
6. No hosing down of hard-surfaced or paved areas with potable drinking water (except for health purposes). Users, such as abattoirs, food processing industries, industries using water to prepare for painting or similar treatments, care facilities, animal shelters and other industries or facilities with special needs can apply to the Director: Water and Sanitation for exemption, (visit the City of Cape Town website for the application process).
7. Don't use municipal drinking water for ornamental water features.
8. The maximum showerhead flow rate may not exceed 10 litres per minute.
9. Flush toilets (manually using a bucket) with grey water, rainwater or other non-drinking water.

Residential

1. No washing of vehicles, trailers, caravans or boats using municipal drinking water is allowed. These must be washed with non-drinking water or waterless products.
2. No topping up (manually or automatically) of swimming pools allowed, even if fitted with pool cover. This includes the filling of new pools or the refilling of an existing pool after a repair.
3. The use of portable play pools is not allowed.

Businesses and Public Facilities

1. The washing of vehicles, trailers, caravans or boats with municipal drinking water aren't allowed except where an exemption has been granted. This applies to both formal and informal car washes. Vehicles, trailers, caravans and boats should be washed with non-drinking water or waterless products. Exemption on application may be granted if water recycling is used in the washing process, (visit the City of Cape Town website for the application process).
2. Fitted pool covers must be used for public swimming pools where practically possible.
3. No automatic top-up systems for swimming pools are allowed.
4. Spray parks aren't allowed to operate.
5. All public spaces must install water efficient parts to minimise water use at all taps, showerheads and other plumbing components and must adhere to Water By-law requirements.
6. Golf courses, sports facilities, parks, schools and learning institutions can't establish any new landscaping or sports fields, except if irrigated only with non-potable water.
7. Contract conditions shall apply for any facility supplied with water in terms of special contracts (notarial deeds, water service intermediaries or water service providers). 

Other restrictions, not detailed above, still apply as stipulated in Schedule 1 of the Water Bylaw, 2010. Please visit the City of Cape Town website for more information.