The City of Cape Town has warned residents to keep on saving water, saying the recent rainfall was not enough to end Level 4 water restrictions.
The storm of last week, which claimed the lives of four people, caused flooding and left 2500 people homeless, did very little to dam levels, increasing it by only 1.6 percent since 5 June, when dam levels stood at 19.6 percent.
The current dam level is at 21.2 percent, and with the last 10 percent of dam water not usable, dam levels are effectively at 11.2 percent, said Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services; and Energy, Xanthea Limberg.
She urged residents to continue to use water sparingly.
“All water users are warned not to increase consumption because of the rain that has been experienced," Limberg says.
"Residents should continue to do all they can to keep their daily usage under 100 litres per person per day in total whether they are at home, work, school or elsewhere.
“Although we are grateful for any rain, dam storage levels have not been impacted by the rain much."
Limberg says it could take three years to recuperate from the drought.
“The City wishes to emphasise that due to the severity of the drought, above-target consumption as well as the unpredictability of climatic conditions, Level 4 water restrictions remain in place indefinitely over the long-term and could even be intensified if warranted.
“It will take at least three consecutive winters of above-average rainfall to make a real difference to the dam levels and therefore continuing to cut water use drastically is vital.”