INFOGRAPHIC: What you need to know about Day Zero

Day Zero is expected to arrive when the Western Cape water storage supply system reaches 13.5 percent. Currently, the dam storages stand at 27. 2 percent.

WWF Freshwater Senior Manager, Christine Colvin, says Day Zero will see taps run dry in residential and business areas.

"From that day onwards until the dams filled up again and there is enough water held in storage, we won't be able to turn up our taps to get access to drinking water and flush our toilets either. Supply into our household would be stopped for a vast majority of residents in the Western Cape.” 

Day Zero is expected to take place on the 12 of April 2018.

"Once the water is switched off to our houses, the supply system still needs to be working for hospitals and for the essential services. And the city said they will keep water supplied for the CBD because that's the economic heart of the city," says Colvin.

Informal areas, where residents fetch water from a waterpoints, will be serviced by the city. Colvin says only residential areas will be cut off.

Only 41 percent of Cape Town residents are using 87L or less per day. Colvin says there are various ways to save water.

1. Make sure you have an emergency supply water at home. Make sure you have 10L of water person when the water is cut off.

2. Make sure your house has no water leaks.

3. Take short showers and capture grey water.

4. Use grey water from the shower to flush the toilet.

5. Reduce the number of washing loads a week and limit to one a week.

 

Last week alone Western Cape dam levels decreased by 1.4 percent. Colvin says if Day Zero arrives it might take weeks or months before residential taps have water again. 

Listen to the full interview below: