Cape Town’s dam levels are nearing 70% of storage capacity due to good rainfall at the beginning of winter and the phenomenal conservation efforts of Capetonians. Water restrictions and the associated tariffs are thus to be conservatively lowered in the interim to Level 5 from 1 October 2018.

This will bring tariff relief of between 26,6% and 70% per kilolitre of water depending on the usage and tariff category.

The water usage target will be increased from 50 litres to 70 litres per person per day and the daily collective consumption target will increase by 50 million litres to 500 million litres to ensure that water conservation efforts remain in place.

The Western Cape Water Supply System’s dams are now at 68% capacity, a very significant improvement on the situation at the end of the previous winter, when they were at 38% capacity. This was during a drought so uncommon that it only has an estimated return period of 311 years.

The very low supply storage resulted in the imposition of Level 6B water restrictions in February 2018. The enormously positive response from Capetonians when called upon to reduce water usage, as well as advanced pressure and water management programmes by the City, saved the day and Cape Town avoided the worst-case scenario.

Once dam capacity again exceeded 50% at the beginning of July 2018, the City called for a discussion with the National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) around the relaxation of restrictions. Since then, two meetings have been held with the other large users in the system, both urban and agricultural, and the DWS. Agreement was reached among the users for a gradual reduction in the overall restrictions, including reducing the urban usage restriction from 45% to 40% of what it would normally be allocated.

Rainfall remains highly variable, and while May and June saw rainfall close to that of an average year, July had very poor rainfall. This improved somewhat in August and so far in September the positive trend continues.

The relaxation of restrictions is a moderate proposal that is based on a hydrological risk assessment that indicates that it is safe to do so at the level of risk that is agreed upon. Of course, the amended Level 5 restriction guidelines for water usage will apply and we are confident that the significant behavioural change that we’ve seen pertaining to water conservation will prevail to a large extent.

The DWS undertook to respond by 31 August 2018, but have yet to do so. It appears that the DWS is reluctant to make any adjustments before the end of the hydrological year at the end of October 2018, when assessments are usually made.

The City believes, with the full support of the other catchment users such as other municipalities and the agricultural sector, that an interim adjustment is fully justified and appropriate at this stage.

The City will thus move from the current Level 6B restricts to Level 5 restrictions as from 1 October 2018. A further reassessment of future adjustments will be made once the DWS makes a ruling for the new hydrological year or advises on an interim relaxation.

The key elements of Level 5 restrictions are as follows:

• An increase in the personal water use limit from 50 litres per person per day to 70 litres per person per day
• A resetting of the overall City water usage target from 450 million litres per day to 500 million litres per day
• A relaxation of restrictions for commercial and industrial water users from a 45% to a 40% usage reduction
• A lowering of tariffs to Level 5 tariffs

Miracle cyclist Grant Lottering conquered the Pyrenees and Alps in three days.

Lottering’s staggering accomplishment is a powerful message of hope and inspiration to millions

On Saturday 1 September at 13:00, Grant Lottering – survivor, international speaker and Laureus Sport for Good Ambassador – set off from the Col d’Aubisque in the Western Pyrenees on a grueling cycle challenge, reaching the ski station of Les Saisies in the Northern Alps 72 hours later.

Dubbed #pyrenees_alps18, this challenge was Lottering’s fifth and final Im’possible Tour. Taking on a challenge of this nature is nothing new to Lottering – since a horrific, near-fatal crash in the Italian Alps in July 2013, Lottering has repeatedly demonstrated perseverance in the face of adversity. In 2016, Lottering did what many considered impossible and set off on a nonstop ride through the French Alps – a distance of 962km which he completed in 46 hours of continuous riding, climbing some of the most brutal Alpine mountains in all of cycling folklore. He can now add traversing the entire Pyrenean mountain range to his list of achievements.

Already described as a ‘stunning’, ‘staggering’, and ‘mind-blowing’ accomplishment, Lottering arrived at the finish location of Les Saisies, one hours’ drive from Geneva, at 13:34 on 4 September, 72 hours and 34 minutes later.

Besides the obvious challenges of physical and mental endurance, embarking on this nonstop, three-day bike ride through France presented several other obstacles to Lottering and his two support teams (consisting of his partner, family, friends, and his photographer, who followed Lottering for the entire 72 hours, rotating on an eight-hourly schedule).

The route through the Pyrenees and southern Provence and up the Alps presented unexpected challenges for Lottering and his team, causing significant time delays. These included: road closures in Southern France and the Alps which required route deviations; getting lost in the middle of the night and cycling up the wrong mountains before having to make a U-turn; and rain at night in the Southern Alps, which made the descents treacherous, dangerous and slow. Further road closures also resulted in a longer-than-planned car transfer between the Pyrenees and Provence. All in all, Lottering and his support team lost close to nine hours as a result of these unexpected delays.

Nevertheless, Lottering was not deterred from his goal. In total, he rode 961km in 47 hours and 21 minutes and climbed 21,454m over 23 mountains, including the famous Tour de France giants of the Col du Tourmalet, Col de Vars, Col d’Izoard, Col du Lauteret, Col du Galibier, Col de Madeleine and more.

During the 72 hours, Lottering never actually slept, but ‘napped’ in his support team’s car when they stopped at pre-determined places and times. He napped five times over the three days of riding, totalling only three hours and 40 minutes of sleep.

The end of the tour saw Lottering exhausted but elated. Asked how he felt after his fantastic achievement, Lottering said, “I didn’t do it; we did it,” pointing to his support teams, “to complete this Im’possible Tour was incredibly important to me and failure simply was not an option,” he continued.

Asked how he managed to just keep going; Lottering replied: “The levels of pain I endured for long periods of time simply cannot be explained or expressed. At times, everything in me wanted to just stop and lie down. Mentally, I prepared more than ever, and that proved invaluable as I used my mental strength and memory of past adversities I have overcome to push through the pain and shift my focus. I have had so much adversity to overcome, so many setbacks the past few years, that succeeding this year was very, very personal for me.”

Aside from completing the gruelling challenge, Lottering also managed to raise over R100,000 for Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. To date, Lottering’s annual Im’possible Tours have raised over R2 million for this worthy organisation that fosters a love for sport in disadvantaged communities.

In completing the 2018 Im’Possible Tour, Lottering has once again proved that with passion and purpose, nothing is impossible or beyond his reach… or anyone else’s.

On Wednesday, during a special ceremony, 50 first-time property owners, including 95-year-old pensioner Koolsum Adams, received the title deeds to their state-subsidised homes in the Pelican Park housing development. The remaining 125 title deeds will be issued to beneficiaries over the next few days.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport and Urban Development, Councillor Brett Herron, was present this morning to congratulate the new property owners and to encourage them to make responsible decisions to secure their homes for their loved ones.

Pensioner Koolsum Adams, who recently celebrated her 95th birthday, was among the beneficiaries of the Pelican Park housing development who received their title deeds during the special handover ceremony today.

Over the next few days a total of 175 beneficiaries will receive their title deeds for their new Breaking New Ground (BNG) homes.

Mrs Adams was on the housing database for 20 years and living in Manenberg when she received her house.

‘I am extremely happy that I have my own house. Now I can be the boss,’ she joked.

Her daughter Washiela Sait said her mother has always looked forward to having her own house.

‘The day when I got the letter to say we must come to the office, my mother couldn’t believe it because she always told everybody, “one day I will have my own house” and eventually she got the key. We have done lots of things to the house to make it comfortable for her and she is happy,’ said Mrs Sait.

Phase 1 of the Pelican Park housing project provided 2 013 families with BNG houses. BNG houses are subsidised by the State and are offered to households who are registered on the City’s housing database and have a monthly household income of below R3 500. The beneficiaries of these BNG houses are, furthermore, selected in accordance with the City’s Housing Allocation Policy.

To date, 1 169 beneficiaries have received their title deeds.

The title deeds are handed over in batches as the City receives them from the Deeds Office.

During the special ceremony, Councillor Herron and Ward Councillor Gerry Gordon congratulated the new property owners.

‘Today it was an honour to meet our pensioners, including Mrs Koolsum Adams, and to present them with their title deeds. For many of our beneficiaries, receiving their own homes and title deeds is a dream come true.

‘For this reason, it is always a heart-warming occasion to hand over title deeds to our beneficiaries, especially our pensioners, because we get to be a part of providing some of our most vulnerable residents with the opportunity to own property for the first time in their lives. Mrs Adams, like many other people, was affected by the Group Areas Act during Apartheid, which saw her family being moved from Claremont to Manenberg. With her title deed in hand, Mrs Adams now officially has a home of her own.

‘These title deeds are therefore not just pieces of paper. They represent the restoration of dignity. They give our beneficiaries a sense of belonging and the confidence and security they need to prove that they are the rightful owners of their homes,’ said Councillor Herron.

He also encouraged the beneficiaries to look after their homes.

‘As the rightful, legal property owners, the beneficiaries are reminded that they are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of their homes. They are also responsible for ensuring that they make good decisions that secure their homes for their loved ones as these are their financial assets and provide shelter for their families. Now that they have their title deeds, I would encourage all our beneficiaries to ensure that they draft a will to secure their assets for the future,’ said Councillor Herron.

Capetonians really have something to celebrate as we reach the end of our winter rain season. Our City dams have filled up beyond 66% as we enter Spring, and more rain and snow will eventually trickle down to bump it up even further.

So what better time than to have a water party!

Smile Breakfast with Bobby and Lindy headed out to the Newlands Spring this week for the Smile Water Party, celebrating the fact that we have defeated Day Zero, and we are certainly in a much better position than this time last year.

City dams were just 35% full in September 2017.

And it was also a perfect opportunity to thank all our Smile Water Warriors who have done everything humanly possible to save water.

The provincial government’s James Brent-Styan joined Bobby and Lindy and was full of praise for all YOUR efforts. He acknowledged that Smile 90.4 FM was really at the forefront when it came to encouraging people to save, even before the possibility of a Day Zero was announced.

Dozens of Smileys also braved the traffic and the rain to come say hello to the team.

The City certainly is encouraged by the recent rain, but remember Water restrictions and the associated tariffs remain in place.

We have to wait for the National Water and sanitation department to decide whether restrictions will be relaxed. They’ve indicated it might only happen if dams reach 85%.

The City’s Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson says the focus now moves to future water projects, but we simply must continue to save as much water as possible, regardless of how full our dams are.

The ‘new normal’ will require us to continue to do those little things you’ve been doing to save water, using buckets, storage tanks… not flushing when it’s not strictly necessary, and realising you’re grass will again die in summer…

Well done to everyone for doing everything they can to make sure we never have to face a Day Zero threat again.

Dam levels have improved by 3,9%, rising to 65,9% of storage capacity since last week. Water restrictions and associated tariffs remain in place; however, the City has advocated for a conservative relaxation of the restriction levels, which would pave the way for the associated relaxation of the restriction tariffs. The average water consumption for the past week was 535 million litres per day, which is an increase from last week’s consumption of 513 million litres per day.

The City of Cape Town is very encouraged to see dam levels rise above 65% after significant late-winter rainfall. It is hoped that this latest rain could provide sufficient motivation for finally easing the water restrictions. This decision is currently being considered by the National Department of Water and Sanitation.

Any relaxation of restrictions will at first be conservative. We cannot return to a business-as-usual attitude to water without risking water security in the years to come.

‘The rainfall over the past few weeks, combined with continued saving efforts by the vast majority of residents, has seen dams fill to levels the City hasn’t seen in years. We have managed to steer ourselves away from disaster, but must now start considering how best to manage our recovery going forward,’ said Executive Deputy Mayor, Alderman Ian Neilson.

‘Although much work is planned over the next few years to augment the City’s water supply and continue to create awareness about water conservation, we must remember that we live in a region with a semi-arid climate. At the moment, we will still rely on our dams to provide the majority of our water. Given the unpredictable nature of our rainfall, it is imperative that we diversify our supply for the future, and entrench the water-saving mind-set we have cultivated over the past year,’ said Alderman Neilson.