Residents are now being asked to curb the amount of municipal water they use each day to just 50 liters (a little over 13 gallons).
Only a month ago, level 6 restrictions had placed residents on a daily allowance of 87 liters (about 23 gallons), illustrating the severity of looming crisis.
Dubbed Zero Day, officials estimate that if water levels continue to fall as anticipated, South Africa’s second most populous city will run out of water by April 16.
Experts are keeping a close eye on daily consumption in a desperate bid to avoid the disaster, warning residents tempted to ignore measures that they face fines and installation of water management meters if they do not comply.
Not only has Cape Town been engaged in the worst drought in a century for the last three years, but combined with a changing climate and rapidly growing population, the situation has intensified.
"It is quite unbelievable that a majority of people do not seem to care and are sending all of us headlong towards Day Zero," the mayor’s office said in January.
We must force them."
"People were already rushing in and out of the shop to buy water," van der Spuy told CNN.
"This will hopefully assist them as they have to be at work and do not have the time to go to shops during working hours to buy water," van der Spuy said.
It seems like you have to be at the shop as soon as they open in order to get water," van der Spuy added.

Cape Town — a city once at the forefront of Africa’s green movement — implemented new emergency water restrictions Thursday as the sprawling metropolis prepares for the day their taps run dry. Residents are now being asked to curb the amount of municipal water they use each day to just 50 liters (a little over 13 gallons). Only a month ago, level 6 restrictions had placed residents on a daily allowance of 87 liters (about 23 gallons), illustrating the severity of looming crisis. Dubbed Zero Day, officials estimate that if water levels continue to fall as anticipated, South Africa’s second most populous city will run out of water by April 16. Experts are keeping a close eye on daily consumption in a desperate bid to avoid the disaster, warning residents tempted to ignore measures that they face fines and installation of water management meters if they do not comply. It may seem unthinkable that a developed city of four million could run out of water but it’s been a slow-burning catastrophe exacerbated by some uncontrollable factors. Not only has Cape Town been engaged in the worst drought in a century for the last three…

Water scarcity already affects more than 40 per cent of the world’s population and is expected to rise due to global warming.
Water scarcity already affects more than 40 per cent of the world’s population and is expected to rise due to global warming, with one in four people projected to face chronic or recurring shortages by 2050, according to the United Nations.
Already hosting more than half the world’s people, cities are at the forefront of the problem, as population growth increases pressure on reserves, which are already stretched by too little rain and too much waste.
Following are some of the crisis cities:
Melbourne has since slashed per capita water use by half and installed desalination and recycling plants.
The reservoir supplying Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city and a metropolitan region of 20 million people, nearly dried up in 2015, as the country faced its worst drought in 80 years, depriving many residents of water for 12 hours a day.
The city has been working to improve watersheds in the Andes mountains, while residents in hillside shantytowns overlooking the city have been using nets to condense thick fog from the Pacific Ocean into drainage pipes.
Amman, the capital city of Jordan, has no nearby source of water and regularly experiences drought, while its lower-lying parts are inundated when it rains heavily.
The city recycles the vast majority of its waste water and uses it for irrigation but a refugee influx from neighbouring Syria has put additional pressure on reserves countrywide.
Despite the heavy downpours that come each rainy season, Mexico City, a mega-city of 21.3 million people, depends on depleting aquifers and has long struggled with providing enough water to its inhabitants.

Water scarcity already affects more than 40 per cent of the world’s population and is expected to rise due to global warming. Drought-stricken Cape Town could run out of water as soon as April, but South Africa is not alone in its struggle as ever more world cities battle acute water shortages. Water scarcity already affects more than 40 per cent of the world’s population and is expected to rise due to global warming, with one in four people projected to face chronic or recurring shortages by 2050, according to the United Nations. Already hosting more than half the world’s people, cities are at the forefront of the problem, as population growth increases pressure on reserves, which are already stretched by too little rain and too much waste. Following are some of the crisis cities: MELBOURNE The Australian city suffered the so-called ‘Millennium drought’ between 1997 and 2009. It was one of the worst dry…

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Drought-stricken Cape Town could run out of water as soon as April, but South Africa is not alone in its struggle as ever more world cities battle acute water shortages.
Water scarcity already affects more than 40 percent of the world’s population and is expected to rise due to global warming, with one in four people projected to face chronic or recurring shortages by 2050, according to the United Nations.
Following are some of the crisis cities:
The reservoir supplying Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city and a metropolitan region of 20 million people, nearly dried up in 2015, as the country faced its worst drought in 80 years, depriving many residents of water for 12 hours a day.
The city has been working to improve watersheds in the Andes mountains, while residents in hillside shantytowns overlooking the city have been using nets to condense thick fog from the Pacific Ocean into drainage pipes.
Amman, the capital city of Jordan, has no nearby source of water and regularly experiences drought, while its lower-lying parts are inundated when it rains heavily.
The government is moving ahead with new pipelines for groundwater and projects to desalinate water from the Red Sea.
Built on what was once a lake, it is also prone to flooding.
The Australian city suffered the so-called ‘Millennium drought’ between 1997 and 2009.
Originally planned to support about 1 million people, the Afghan capital is now home to more than 4.6 million, according to U.S. government estimates.

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Drought-stricken Cape Town could run out of water as soon as April, but South Africa is not alone in its struggle as ever more world cities battle acute water shortages. Water scarcity already affects more than 40 percent of the world’s population and is expected to rise due to global warming, with one in four people projected to face chronic or recurring shortages by 2050, according to the United Nations. Already hosting more than half the world’s people, cities are at the forefront of the problem, as population growth increases pressure on reserves, which are already stretched by too little rain and too much waste. Following are some of the crisis cities: SAO PAULO The reservoir supplying Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city and a metropolitan region of 20 million people, nearly dried up in 2015, as the country faced its worst drought in 80 years, depriving many residents of water for 12 hours a day. The city was criticized by U.N. experts for losing 31 percent of its treated water to leaks and theft, compared to an average of…

Unless things change quickly – and drastically – it’s the day when taps in the South African city will be turned off, and Cape Town will be officially out of water.
Terrifying stats on the City of Cape Town website chart the city’s dwindling water supplies week-by-week, with Day Zero looming as reservoirs trickle down below 28 per cent capacity.
The droughts are partly down to an explosion in Cape Town’s population, with a 79 per cent increase in people since 1995 met by a mere 15 per cent increase in water storage capacity.
AFP or licensors Water Wars Without water to cool people off, temperatures can flare up during prolonged dry periods.
"Dry vegetation combined with high temperatures and low humidity often increases the frequency and intensity of fires, while conflicts over water can intensify during droughts."
Getty – Contributor You don’t have to look far to see an example of how wars can be waged over access to water.
Piotr Wolski, a researcher at the University of Cape Town’s Climate Systems Analysis Group, warns that the situation in South Africa could become a more common sight as the earth’s climate changes.
Since you can’t invest in water the way you would invest in other commodities, he’s focused on water-intensive crops instead.
And with Day Zero looming, the City of Cape Town still hasn’t finalised plans for 200 water collection points around the city, where citizens will be able to collect their daily twenty-five-litre water allowance.
And elsewhere, in Britain and further afield, people will be watching what happens in Cape Town and asking whether this could one day become the "new normal" for them too.

EVERYONE who lives in Cape Town is dreading April 12, dubbed Day Zero. Unless things change quickly – and drastically – it’s the day when taps in the South African city will be turned off, and Cape Town will be officially out of water. Reuters Cape Fear The ongoing water crisis in South Africa has got worse since December, the start of the Cape’s scorching summer, and the situation is now so bad that Cape Town could become the world’s first major city to drain its water reserves completely. Terrifying stats on the City of Cape Town website chart the city’s dwindling water supplies week-by-week, with Day Zero looming as reservoirs trickle down below 28 per cent capacity. All the water conservation targets have been missed, and almost every project to secure alternate water sources is languishing behind schedule. Rain is the city’s only hope. Alamy In a city with a reputation for crime, and a heavy reliance on tourism, the droughts could spell disaster – especially as more foreign visitors cancel their holidays. Local water wars are a distinct possibility, and city officials have shared fears that an end to flushing toilets could spark outbreaks of preventable diseases like typhoid. The droughts are partly down to an explosion in Cape Town’s population, with a 79 per cent increase in people since 1995 met by a mere 15 per cent increase in water storage capacity. But researchers agree that changing global temperatures also play a role in explaining why the reservoirs are running dry – and why more cities could follow Cape Town into such dangerous territory. Heather Cooley, from the Pacific Institute, a research charity looking at water shortages, told Sun Online: “All regions are vulnerable to drought, though the frequency, intensity, and duration of the drought can vary. “For many areas, droughts are becoming more common and more severe due to climate change.” AFP or licensors Water Wars Without water to cool people off, temperatures can flare up during prolonged dry periods. In drought-prone India, for example, water shortages have led to the emergence of a black-market “water…

Water supply resumed Monday evening in Kilifi and Mombasa after Kilifi County Government moved to pay a Sh21 million electricity bill.
The one week water crisis was caused by Kenya Power’s decision to cut supply over a Sh42 million debt owed by Mombasa and Kilifi counties.
The situation had threatened to worsen an upsurge of diseases in Mombasa – which is still recovering from recent chikungunya, dengue fever and cholera outbreaks – and negatively affect tourism prospects.
“Water is now running.
Pumping resumed after power was reconnected at the Baricho water works after the governor announced his administration had initiated the payment of the outstanding electricity bill.
We expect to have full supply of water by Tuesday midday,” she said.
Mombasa Water Company will clear the outstanding bill of Sh21 million,” she said.
He said that no extra cost would be passed on to residents due to increased cost of power.
Special tariff The outstanding power bill had accrued after Kenya Power backdated bills after the utility firm realised it had been under-billing CWSB for over a year.
“I am happy that water has resumed and I can now go on with my normal activities.

Water supply resumed Monday evening in Kilifi and Mombasa after Kilifi County Government moved to pay a Sh21 million electricity bill. The one week water crisis was caused by Kenya Power’s decision to cut supply over a Sh42 million debt owed by Mombasa and Kilifi counties. The situation had threatened to worsen an upsurge of diseases in Mombasa – which is still recovering from recent chikungunya, dengue fever and cholera outbreaks – and negatively affect tourism prospects. Coast Water Services Board (CWSB) chair, Sureya Hersi, said Tuesday morning that pumping of water resumed following a meeting with Kilifi governor Amason Kingi at his office in Kilifi town on Monday. “Water is now running. Pumping resumed after power was reconnected at the Baricho water works after the governor announced his administration had initiated the payment of the outstanding electricity bill. We…