Cape Town residents may lose piped water to their homes within two months if they do not act to counter the effects of the worst drought to hit South Africa’s second city in almost a century.
Local authorities have warned four million people that if they do not reduce consumption by “day zero” – 12 April – they will have to queue at 200 standpipes for daily rations of 25 litres (6.6 US gallons).
This is around nine days earlier than initially thought, based on the council’s average weekly dam level tracker.
Cape Town’s taps may run dry sooner than projected after ‘Day Zero’, the day which Cape Town runs out of water, was moved forward to 12 April 2018.
Last week, it was estimated that Day Zero would be on 21 April 2018.
Officials cautioned that the new date is subject to change, based on a number of variables.
Due to the severity of the water crisis, level 6B water restrictions will take effect from 1 February, meaning residents will only be permitted to use 50 litres of water per person, per day.
The Western Cape is experiencing its worst drought in over 100 years.