Cape Town businesses told to step up anti-drought measures

It is time for businesses in Cape Town to step up and conserve water‚ the president of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry said on Wednesday.

"The drought has turned the Western Cape into a disaster area and we have to take urgent measures to reduce water use‚ but we must also see it as a long term problem‚'' said chamber president Janine Myburgh in a statement.

"We have all been guilty of taking water for granted and that has to stop right now. We can look back and see some of the things we should have done‚ but that does not solve our immediate problems. I appeal to all businesses that use a lot of water to do their own recycling and reuse water in toilets‚ for example.

• Parched Cape budgets R3bn to fight off Day ZeroWestern Cape Premier Helen Zille declared the province a disaster area as it tried to deal with its worst water shortage in 113 years. 

"It may require some re-plumbing but these emergency measures can become permanent water-savers for years to come.''

She also suggested that municipalities should be forced to set targets for recycling water. However‚ she pointed out that in Cape Town 6% of water was recycled - but this was still not good enough.

• Western Cape faces worst water shortage in 113 yearsWestern Cape Premier Helen Zille yesterday declared the province a disaster area as it battled its worst water shortage in 113 years. 

"We have a crisis and my hope is that it will change our thinking."

Premier Helen Zille declared the province a disaster area on Monday.

Five facts you should know about the relentless drought in the Western Cape:

• It is the worst water shortage in 113 years‚ according to Zille;

• The provincial government needs approximately R3-billion to fund projects to mitigate water shortages;

• Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane said they have looked to the Table Mountain group aquifer‚ the Berg River-Voelvlei Dam augmentation scheme‚ the exploration of desalination and rainwater harvesting - among other things - as alternative water sources;

• MEC for economic opportunities Alan Winde said all farmers in drought-declared areas may apply for assistance - about 800 already have and

• The City of Cape Town has appealed to residents to use only 100 litres of water per person per day.

-TMG Digital/TimesLIVE