By AMBER SCHULTZ,
world editor

Cape Town residents have avoided a imminent date with Day Zero – the day when water supplies are so low most of the city's taps will be turned off.

Even though South Africa's drought continues and dam levels are dropping, that date been been deferred from April 21 to sometime in 2019, authorities in South Africa's capital said this week.

Strict water restrictions remain in place. Locals are still being urged to limit their water consumption to 50 litres per day, and are encouraged to use water from alternative sources, instead of relying on the city’s dams.

Taps in Cape Town will be switched off when dam levels reach 13.5 per cent, ominously known as Day Zero. Dams currently sit at 22.7 per cent, latest data shows.

After Day Zero, locals will be forced to queue at 200 water collection points around the city to collect a daily maximum of 25l.

Cape Town Premier Helen Zille wrote in a public statement that this wasn’t a normal drought.

“No government can plan and allocate budgets for such rare events.”

At Newlands Spring, a natural water source in an affluent suburb of Cape Town, locals collect drinking water under 24-hour surveillance.

The round the clock surveillance was implemented following a violent spat which resulted in one individual’s arrest.

Local Mohammed Khan, who collects water from the Newlands Springs daily, said the government didn’t do enough leading up to the drought.

“They were warned about this day coming,” he said. “We shouldn’t be in this situation.”

Mr Khan didn't think increased water tariffs, imposed by the government last week, were fair.

“They’re [the government] to blame in the first place,” he said.

Local high school teacher Charmaine Johnston says collects 25l of drinking water from the spring every fortnight as a precaution to limit dam water consumption.

“I just don’t know what’s going to happen when the taps run dry,” she said.

The chaotic queues at Newlands Springs are supervised by law enforcement officers, traffic controllers and unofficial helpers.

Local Capetonian Yxoni Nano works with this group of unofficial helpers, to assist residents to carry containers of water to their cars.

“I help people who have a lot of cans to carry, and they give me tips,” he said.

While Mr Nano has been working at the spring since its construction over two years ago, many other helpers have only recently joined as the drought worsened.

The helpers aid thousands of people every day, making around 150 Rand (about A$15) in tips.

“Everyone needs to do their part,” Mr Nano said, but added the drought was good for business.

The new date for Day Zero will be based on whether residents comply to the daily limit and the winter rainfall this year.