In October 2017, Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille set out the status of the city's Water Resilience Plan. The plan aimed to add 500 million litres (500,000 m³) per day to supply from springs, aquifers and desalination. She expected first water from the schemes in December 2017 or January 2018, and water from temporary land-based desalination plants by February 2018. Two initial plants were planned at Monwabisi and Strandfontein, with further desalination projects from March 2018. The city had already activated Phase 1 with pressure reduction in the network.
The report showed a major city under drought pressure planning desalination as a short-term emergency measure alongside springs and groundwater, relying on temporary land-based units rather than one large permanent plant.
Source: Memeburn