- LATEST
- WEBSTORY
- TRENDING
WORLD
In less than 90 days, South Africa's Cape Town to become first city with no water
South Africa's drought-stricken Cape Town told residents on Wednesday they would need to cut their daily water consumption by almost half from next month as authorities scramble to prevent the city running out of water as soon as in April. Struggling to cope with its worst drought in a century, Cape Town, South Africa's second-largest city and a major tourist hub, last cut water consumption targets in October but its mayor said on Wednesday that too few residents were paying them any heed. From Feb. 1, the target for water consumption per person would be lowered to 50 litres (13 gallons) from 87 litres a day, and the collective consumption target to 450 million litres from 500 million litres a day, Mayor Patricia de Lille said.
Updated : Jan 19, 2018, 02:36 PM IST
 "Cape Town")
TRENDING NOW
)
'Ban Ayesha Khan': Furious netizens brutally slam Bigg Boss 17 contestant for 'liking' controversial 'Indians Are Not Welcome In Kashmir' post
)
Good news! Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath inspects Ganga Expressway work, says project will be ready by...
)
Meet actress who was abandoned by her father, still became superstar, worked in 180 films, remained single even after marriage, her net worth is Rs..., name is..
)
Madhya Pradesh: PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for kin of 12 dead in Mandsaur accident
)
'Not many people are fond of..': Shah Rukh Khan reveals why he would never worked with Akshay Kumar after Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Om Shanti Om
)
Who owns Vande Bharat, Shatabdi Express coaches? Not Indian Railways, their real owners are...
)
How much time will it take for India to stop water flow to Pakistan after suspension of Indus water treaty?
)
Bad news for Pakistan after Pahalgam terror attack, World Bank issues big warning, claims 1 crore Pakistanis on verge of...
)
Deepinder Goyal breaks silence on Reddit post claiming Zomato losing market share, forcing employees to order from firm: 'Freedom of...'
)
Zeenat Aman is hospitalised, shares health update from 'recovery room': 'I've abandoned my...'
)
This Indian genius, a celebrated physicist, was nominated for Nobel Prize 9 times, never won it, converted to Hinduism due to..., name was..
)
What is TRF? Mask of Lashkar-e-Toiba, raised by Pakistan's ISI? Mystery behind name revealed
)
Bad news for bankrupt Pakistan, this move by Modi govt leaves Islamabad worried as it takes 'emergency' steps for...
)
10 most handsome men in the World: This BTS member beats Hrithik Roshan, Chris Evans, Brad Pitt
)
This is India's most expensive school, also one of country's oldest, annual fee is Rs..., is located in...
South Africa's drought-stricken Cape Town told residents on Wednesday they would need to cut their daily water consumption by almost half from next month as authorities scramble to prevent the city running out of water as soon as in April. Struggling to cope with its worst drought in a century, Cape Town, South Africa's second-largest city and a major tourist hub, last cut water consumption targets in October but its mayor said on Wednesday that too few residents were paying them any heed. From Feb. 1, the target for water consumption per person would be lowered to 50 litres (13 gallons) from 87 litres a day, and the collective consumption target to 450 million litres from 500 million litres a day, Mayor Patricia de Lille said.
According to an official, Cape Town as a whole consumed 618 million litres of water on Monday.
WATCH: Cape Town's authorities are scrambling to avert a water crisis ahead of Day Zero, when the city runs out of water https://t.co/oGOYmbTybJ via @ReutersTV pic.twitter.com/tEesYqlObN
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) January 17, 2018
"We have reached a point of no return," De Lille said in a statement. The new targets will remain in place for 150 days before the city reassesses the situation.
"Day Zero" - the day the taps run dry - is now expected on April 21, a day earlier than previously forecast, according to the statement.
Besides a huge public awareness campaign, teams have also intensified leak detection and repairs, as well as extending the use of treated effluent water which offset the use of drinking water for non-potable purposes, De Lille said.
She also said the city would be voting on a punitive tariff this Friday that will see "exponentially higher" water rates for residents who exceed their limits.
The city has also tried to limit water consumption by reducing the water pressure and stepping up the installation of water management devices in high-consumption households.
An average bath holds around 80 litres of water
