On 19 January 2018, the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille declared that #dayzero is now likely. #dayzero is the day when the dams feeding water to Cape Town will be too low. Water supply will be closed. New emergency measures have been declared. Level 6B water restrictions will begin on 1 February.

But what can tourists coming to Cape Town expect? Wesgro has released the following information asking tourists to come and enjoy Cape Town and the Western Cape, but be mindful of the drought

Come enjoy….

Cape Town and the Western Cape are open for business in spite of the current drought. Visitors are arriving in a place with a significant breadth and depth of experiences and exceptional beauty. However, as beautiful as it is, the Western Cape is a water-scarce part of the world (much like Southern California and Western Australia) and is vulnerable to the effects of climate change and is susceptible to periodic droughts.

At present the Western Cape is experiencing a significant drought. This is a 1 in 1000-year occurrence. To counter the short-term effects of the drought and the possibility of running out of water, the City has put in place a number of initiatives to increase the supply of water and make provision for extreme water shortages.

There are still many places across the Western Cape that are not as severely affected by the drought such as the Garden Route and the Cape Overberg.

…but be mindful

Below average rainfall over a number of years has forced everyone who lives in or visits Cape Town to rethink their water usage behaviours. Responsible consumption of water is the new normal – not just in Cape Town but in many other water-scarce places in the world.

Some parts of the tourism and hospitality industry have proactively adjusted how they utilise water to reduce their consumption – giving guests peace of mind that every drop is being used responsibly.

In the event of what the City of Cape Town refers to as ‘Day Zero’, there will be available water for tourists and locals’ critical needs. This is considered to be water for personal hygiene and consumption. ‘Day Zero’ is when the City of Cape Town cuts the regular flow of water.

‘Day Zero’ is a projected date that is entirely dependent on current rates of water consumption: if all stakeholders adhere to the required water savings target, ‘Day Zero’ can be avoided.

It is important to check with your accommodation partner if they have made business contingency plans in the event of “Day Zero” occurring.

Much like a local, tourists need to treat this scarce resource with the utmost respect.

Frequently asked questions

If tourists visit Cape Town / the Western Cape will there be water?

• Yes there will be water for tourists’ essential daily needs. These needs are considered to be access to drinking water and for personal hygiene.

What does ‘Day Zero’ mean?

• ‘Day Zero’ is when the City of Cape Town cuts the regular flow of water.
• ‘Day Zero’ is a projected date that is entirely dependent on current rates of water consumption: if all stakeholders adhere to the required water savings target, ‘Day Zero’ can be avoided.
• Tourists would still be able to enjoy the diverse and world-class experiences Cape Town and the Western Cape has to offer.

How widespread is the drought in South Africa?

• The drought and resultant water restrictions are mostly isolated to parts of the Western Cape Province – particularly the City of Cape Town and surrounding areas.
• Places like The Cape Overberg and The Garden Route are less impacted by water restrictions. It’s important to remember that South Africa in general is a water-scarce country.

Will tourists have access to drinking water?

• Yes.

Will tourists be able to bath, shower or use a swimming pool?

• At present, tourists will be able to shower and maintain daily hygiene. Mandated guidelines suggest a shower of no longer than 2 minutes. The use of baths is entirely discouraged. Some swimming pools at hotels have been converted to salt (ocean) water.
• In the eventuality of Day Zero, it will be necessary to contact your service provider to determine what measures are in place to continue the supply of water.

Will restaurants and bars still be in operation?

• In the event of ‘Day Zero’ – yes. Many parts of the hospitality industry have proactively implemented water savings and water augmentation solutions to ensure ongoing availability of water in their establishments.
• Restaurants and bars are not currently negatively influenced but must still comply with water restrictions.

Which tourism activities could be impacted?

• Tourists will still be able to access and enjoy primary tourism attractions such as our iconic Table Mountain, Cape Point and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
• Specific river-based experiences may be impacted.

Will emergency services still function in the event of ‘Day Zero’?

• Yes. All critical emergency services (hospitals, clinics, police services) will continue to function.

Will major events still be staged?

• Yes. All major events have proactively put in place plans to ensure that events have a zero or heavily reduced water footprint e.g. bringing in water from outside of Cape Town / the Western Cape.