Cape Town braces for water shut-off On "Day Zero", as it is called, currently forecast for April 12, the ordinary water supply will be shut down and taps will run dry in drought-stricken Cape Town. Residents of the city of four million will then be forced to collect a daily water ration of just 25 litres (6.6 US gallons) from 200 water collection points -- not even enough for a two-minute shower in normal times.