Pupils will start the year bringing their own bottled drinking water to at least one high school that is taking drastic steps to mitigate the effects of a looming water crisis in Cape Town.
When pupils return to school‚ they will have limited access to drinking water and some toilet facilities will be closed.
“As the water crisis heightens in the Western Cape in general and Cape Town in particular‚ Bergvliet High School is obliged to take measures to reduce our water consumption‚” said the notice from principal Stephen Price.
– Downstairs toilets being open before school‚ at breaks and after school – otherwise locked with keys available should they need to be used during lessons.
– One hand basin tap operational per bathroom‚ with the others disconnected.
Hand sanitiser will be provided.
– Pupils will be required to bring‚ according to a roster system‚ 5l of bottled water per month to be used daily in class.
The school told parents that it had been approached by the city’s disaster management team with a view to it being used as a water collection point for residents‚ should “Day Zero” arrive when the dams are empty.
The department is monitoring water consumption and will intervene where necessary where water consumption is excessive.
“The WCED has also issued spreadsheets to schools for monitoring water consumption in the mornings‚ afternoons and over weekends.