Cape town: The City of Cape Town has appealed to residents to be more water-wise and minimize non-essential consumption due to excessive water usage over the past few weeks. The City has set a collective water-wise daily usage target of less than 975 million litres per day (MLD) for the summer season.

According to South African Government News Agency, this allocation was determined to mitigate the risk associated with below-average or unpredictable rainfall during 2026 and to maintain a reliable water supply. As of Wednesday, 31 December 2025, the average water usage stood at 1,025 MLD, with the city's dam levels at 70.5%.

Zahid Badroodien, the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, stated, "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." He emphasized that 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.

Badroodien highlighted the importance of early and sustained reductions in water use to protect water security, reduce the risk of sudden restrictions, and ensure sufficient reserves are available should rainfall in 2026 be below average. He stated, "Adjusting water-use habits now across households, businesses, and the tourism sector will help build resilience against climate-related shocks and safeguard water supplies."

The City has reminded the public of some key tips to keep water usage down: take short, stop-start showers or small baths, wash more with less for laundry and dishes, turn off taps and hoses when not in use, water gardens before 09:00 or after 18:00, and use water mindfully for children's play and cooling.