South Africa: Cape town issues warning as city faces severe water shortage due to drought

Hit by a severe drought, the city authorities of South Africa's Cape town issued a warning to residentssaying that it might have to turn off most city taps in mid-April if residents don't save enough water.

New water restrictions have also been introduced by the authorities on Thursday in an attempt to avoid "Day Zero."

Residents will be asked to use no more than 50 litres (13.2 gallons) of water daily, down from the current limit of 87 litres (23 gallons).

The day zero is the day when the water in the dams reaches 13.5 per cent of the capacity which currently three-quarter empty, which probably will fall in April.

Most of the city's water is demand is supplied by dams.

According to the new instructions, taps will be shut off and residents will have to stand in queues to get water which will be only allowed 25 litres per person.

However, water will be supplied to hospitals, clinics and essential services.

Showing proof of consequence of climate change, drought is hurting Cape town's tourism industry also affecting economy of the city,

Hotels have asked guests not to use baths and to limit showers to two minutes or less, while some restaurants are switching to disposable cups and ditching table linen.

Tourism accounted for an estimated 9 percent of South Africa's economic output last year, or 412 billion rands ($35 billion).

There is no official data available yet to quantify the impact water shortages are having on numbers

According to the reports if the situation remains same for several more weeks then it will become a first major city to run out of the water.

(With inputs from Reuters)