Cape Town limits water use as storms hamper treatment plants

The City of Cape Town has asked residents and businesses to restrict water use to essential purposes after severe storms raised turbidity and colour levels in raw water from the Wemmershoek and Theewaterskloof dams. The elevated turbidity reduced output at the Wemmershoek and Blackheath water‑treatment plants, while technical faults at the Voëlvlei plant further cut the volume of drinking water stored in bulk reservoirs.

City officials, including Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation Dr Zahid Badroodien, said the municipality is optimising treatment processes, increasing chlorine dosing where needed, and intensifying network monitoring to meet South African standards. Tap water remains safe to drink, but residents are advised to boil it if it appears discoloured and to report any such incidents via WhatsApp, phone, email or online portals.

The city urged the public to avoid non‑essential uses such as irrigation, filling swimming pools and excessive outdoor cleaning until the system stabilises, thanking the community for its cooperation.