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The 2020 winter rains have filled many Western Cape dams almost completely, such as the Steenbras Dam.
(Image: Murray Williams, News24)
- The city of Cape Town says it is selling about 30% less water than before the drought.
- According to the most recent figures, the dams that supply the metro have a total capacity of 90.7%.
- The City Council said the fixed base rate was introduced to “ensure financial sustainability regardless of the level of consumption and to ensure a fairer payment of costs by all customers.”
Despite its dams being over 90% full, the City of Cape Town will not reduce its water rates.
A reduction in rates would depend on an increase in consumption, said Xanthea Limberg, a member of the mayor’s water and waste committee.
“Currently, the City is selling approximately 30% less water than before the drought, but faces additional costs that come with increasing our resilience,” it said in a statement.
“It is important that the City cover its costs to ensure that the maintenance and augmentation programs can be carried out. If the amount of water we sell increases significantly, this will be factored into the rates, but given the uncertain impact of the change climate, it may not be wise to actively promote this approach at this stage. “
According to the most recent figures, the dams that supply the metro had a total capacity of 90.7%, 2.7% more than the previous week.
READ HERE | Cape Town’s dams reach 90% for the first time in 2020
The figures recorded for the week of August 24 to 30, showed that consumption for the same period decreased by 28 million liters per day, from an average of 661 million liters per day the previous week, to 633 million liters per day. day.
Limberg said the fixed base amount charged was introduced to “ensure financial sustainability regardless of the level of consumption and to ensure a fairer payment of costs by all customers.”
She continued:
Before the drought, the tariff was based only on a consumption portion. The drought revealed that if consumption fell significantly (that is, beyond the levels we might have expected before the drought), it could also affect our long-term future by taking resources away for necessary maintenance.
The City changed the rate structure to allow a fixed portion of the revenue needed to “run the system responsibly” to be guaranteed, no matter how much water residents consumed.
The City did not budget for the proceeds from the sale of water, Limberg said.
“When compiling the budget, the City looks at affordability and attempts to set service rates based on projected consumption trends, so that the revenue received covers the cost of providing the service,” he explained.
“The current rates are for financial year 2020/21 projections and realities. The costs of providing water to the City remain similar, even if residents drastically reduce consumption, and if maintenance is delayed, it can cause much more problems. serious and expensive down the line.
“This service includes the maintenance of a 11,500 km water network, 9,500 km sewerage infrastructure, 5,600 km rainwater pipes, 490 wastewater pumping stations and 23 wastewater treatment works.”
SEE | Water, water everywhere: from ‘Day Zero’ to Cape dams overflowing in two years
A year ago, the levels of the dams were at 81.9%.
“Recent significant rains have pushed the total precipitation for 2019/20 close to the long-term average and the dams are almost full for the first time since 2013/2014. Of course, this will lead to serious consideration that the current restrictions of water to ease further after the end of the rainy season: October 31, “Limberg said.
“However, residents should be aware that the impact of climate change in subsequent years is still uncertain and that this will also be taken into account in the final decision on restrictions.”
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