The monthly update of the Cape Town water map shows that 219 000 households have now achieved the coveted dark green dot for their water saving efforts.

The number of households who are using 6 000 litres or less per month at the moment has increased by nearly 8% compared with household water saving data for February.

This shows a steady decrease in water usage since December 2017.

The water map marks residential properties with low water use with green dots.

‘We are hoping that this tool increasingly encourages more households to live the 50-litre life. As we do not know how much winter rainfall we will get or when it will happen, we really must stretch the water that we have left in our dams.

‘In addition, the National Department of Water and Sanitation requires that we reduce our water usage to 450 million litres per day. There is a real threat that if we cannot lower usage further, then even tougher restrictions could be imposed by the national department. In addition, we have always maintained that we need to get to 450 million litres per day to ensure that we keep Day Zero away.

‘We are encouraged by our latest average consumption figures which show that we have achieved the second lowest usage yet at 507 million litres per day. And with the latest water map data, as a city, we are confident that our water users will continue to paint the city green,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services; and Energy, Councillor Xanthea Limberg.

Visit www.capetown.gov.za/watermap to view the latest map.

Consumption is indicated on the map as follows:

• Dark green dot: household using less than 6 000 litres per month
• Light green dot: household using between 6 000 and 10 500 litres per month
• Grey dot with small dark green centre: estimated water meter reading of less than 6 000 litres per month
• Grey dot with small light green centre: estimated water meter reading of less than 10 500 litres per month
• Solid grey dot: excluded property (including: sectional title property or group housing / undeveloped property / water use is zero / no available information for the property / estimated water meter reading of more than 10 500 litres per month)

Remember that the map simply indicates water consumption, not compliance with water restriction limits. Households with higher consumption may have many people living on the property, or may have an undetected water leak.

The map only shows consumption for free-standing houses, and not cluster housing, flats or other land uses. In addition, the map shows consumption information from meters read in March, and may include a portion of consumption from February depending on when your meter was read. This information is updated from the third week of the following month.

Please visit www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater for all water-related information.