Stellenbosch municipality has given the go-ahead for the popular Color Run event to take place this month after considering the impact on the water-scarce town.
The municipality is facing dwindling water supplies and implemented Level 6 restrictions this month - residents have 87 litres per person a day until further notice.
The City of Cape Town has moved to Level 6B and
is restricting its residents to
50 litres a day.
In November last year, concerns had been raised about the Color Run in the city centre, with residents calling for the event to be cancelled and for organisers to show
solidarity with Capetonians' efforts to save every drop of water.
With organisers promising that the event would not use municipal water, it was given the green light.
The event is set to take place on February 17.
Municipal manager Geraldine Mettler said the municipality had communicated with organisers of the event regarding water restrictions and their adherence to the additional conditions put in place for events during the drought.
“The organisers have a water plan in place. They also gave us their assurance that their event will not impact on our water sources and that
they will adhere to the restrictions. Based on their co-operation, the event was approved,” she said.
The Color Run is bringing in water sachets from Johannesburg for an estimated 3 000 participants, who have been encouraged to bring their own bottled water to the event.
Vendors are required to bring their own bottled water for cooking and cleaning. Venue toilets will be locked, and the Color Run is supplying portable toilets.
The Color Run’s national co-ordinator, Craig McLennan, said there would be a clean-up area at the Festival Zone where participants can get the coloured powder blown off before they leave the event.
He said cancellation would also mean that the 200 jobs
created for the week of the event, the revenue generated for the area, and the funds raised for local charities would be lost.
McLennan said participants would take the same shower as they would for any other physical event, and did not expect water usage to spike.
“We have had a lot of informed discussions about this. Of course we stand in solidarity with water-saving efforts.
"Any excess water will be given back to the community,” he said.
lisa.isaacs@inl.co.za