Swimming pools closed on weekdays

Due to the Level 3B water restrictions, the City of Cape Town is changing operating times at all public swimming pools for the rest of summer.

With the exception of Sea Point, Mnandi Resort, and four indoor facilities in Long Street, Retreat, Blue Downs and Strand, all public swimming pools will be closed from Monday to Thursday, starting on Monday February 13.

The swimming pools will only be open to the public from 2pm to 5pm, on Fridays, and from 10am to 5pm, on Saturdays and Sundays, until the end of March, when pools will close for winter.

The Newlands, Westridge and Trafalgar pools will be closed for the rest of summer for repairs and upgrades.

It is estimated more than
1 680kl of water will be saved daily by eliminating the daily backwash the pools need.

With pools only staying open on weekends, only one backwash a week will be needed. Showers at pools will be switched off and splashing will also be restricted. Only normal bathing costumes may be worn when swimming at public swimming pools as significant water can be wasted just by swimming in clothing.

JP Smith, mayco member for safety and security, and social services, said: “According to previous swimming pool user logs, attendance during week days averaged at around 75 people per day during February and March 2016 and around 150 people per day on weekends. This shows that the swimming pools are used 50 percent more over weekends, compared with week days during February and March.

With the low usage levels during the week, it is impractical to keep these pools open while facing the current water crisis in Cape Town.”

Meanwhile, on Monday February 13, the City issued a statement saying water damn levels had dropped to 36.2 percent.

The City has lowered its target for daily collective water use from 800 million litres to 700 million litres.

Mayor Patricia de Lille, said: “In December 2016, the target of 800 million litres per day was set and this was subject to seasonal variations, which, among others, affect the evaporation rate of dams. These variations have caused us to lower the target now. In addition, we have struggled to meet the previous target, and we will therefore need a monumental effort to reduce consumption further and to meet a target that is one hundred million litres lower.”