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Water and sanitation services and costs in formal housing<h2 class="sectHeading">​​​Water and sanitation tariffs​​​​​​​</h2><p>Tariffs are based on how much water you use, which we can calculate by <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Residential-utility-services/Residential-water-and-sanitation-services/Water-meter-readings">reading your water meter</a> and adding a fixed charge. Residential properties are based on a sliding scale or 'stepped tariff' to encourage <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Residential-utility-services/Residential-water-and-sanitation-services/Saving-water">water-saving habits</a>.</p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info note">​​​</i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>current tariff level</h4><p> The lowest (no restriction) tariff is in effect from 1 November 2020.</p></div></div><p>Find out more about <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/greener-living/water-wise-in-the-home/water-restrictions-explained">water restrictions</a>.​</p><p>Most commonly used <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/L3-WaterSanitationRestrictionTariffs.pdf" target="_blank">water and sanitatio​n tariffs​</a><br><a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Financial%20documents/Water%20and%20Sanitation-Sanitation%20Tariffs.pdf" target="_blank">Sanitation - Consumptive tariffs​</a><br><a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Financial%20documents/Water%20and%20Sanitation-Water%20Tariffs.pdf" target="_blank">Water - Consumptive tariffs​</a></p><p>For more information, you can access the:</p><ul><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Tariff%20Policies.pdf" target="_blank">General Tariff Policy</a></li></ul> <span> </span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info remember">​​​</i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Remember</h4><p>Saving water is essential. Make sure you follow our <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Residential-utility-services/Residential-water-and-sanitation-services/know-your-water-regulations">water regulations</a> and read our tips on <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/greener-living/water-wise-in-the-home/saving-water"> saving water</a>. Please also adhere to our <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Water%20use%20regulations%20permanently%20in%20place_2020.pdf" target="_blank">permanent water-saving regulations</a>.</p></div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">Tariffs explained</h2><p>Your monthly water and sanitation step allocations are based on an “average month” (365 days divided by 12, except leap years). During longer billing periods you may receive slightly more than the stated step allocations in lower steps, while during shorter billing periods you might receive slightly less. However, you will never lose out as it balances out on a day-by-day basis. </p><p><a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/WaterJourney-WaterAndSanitation.pdf" target="_blank">Find out how your water reaches the tap in your home</a>. <br></p><p>Sanitation for stand-alone residences is charged at 70% of your metered water consumption but to a maximum of 35 kl of sewerage per month. Sanitation for cluster residence (flats and sectional title units) is charged at 90% of metered water consumption but to a maximum of 35 kl of sewerage per month per household.</p><h4>Fixed basic charge</h4><p>The fixed basic charge is a monthly amount payable by every non-indigent household. Households that are registered as indigent with the City will be charged at a lower rate. </p><p>The charge is based on the size of the meter connection to your property and has been calculated to cover about a quarter of the fixed costs that are associated with supplying water to your home.</p><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/residential-utility-services/residential-water-and-sanitation-services/fixed-basic-charge-for-water">Find out more about the fixed basic charge for water</a>.</p><h4>Water availability charge</h4><p>Water availability charges are billed to the owners of vacant plots to recover infrastructure costs incurred in servicing these areas. However, this tariff is not applicable to:</p><ul><li>public open space, </li><li>private roads, </li><li>vacant land rented from Council, and </li><li>vacant land without water services where the property’s boundary is more than 30 meters away from these services.</li></ul><h2 class="sectHeading">Indigent households</h2><p>Registered <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/local%20and%20communities/financial-relief-and-rebates/financial-support-services/indigent-benefits">indigent households</a> in Cape Town with a direct water and sanitation connection get their first 6 000 litres (6 kl) of water and 4 200 litres (4.2 kl) of sewerage per month free of charge. </p><p>Any consumption exceeding 6 000 litres per month will be charged at normal tariffs. This also applies to indigent customers living in cluster residences (flats and sectional title units), subject to the approval of indigency of the full development. Cluster residences and homes for various vulnerable groups need to apply – <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Residential-utility-services/Residential-water-and-sanitation-services/water-and-sanitation-rebates-and-concessions"> find out more</a>.</p><p>Households in informal settlements are <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Residential-utility-services/Residential-water-and-sanitation-services/Water-and-sanitation-services-in-informal-settlements">supplied water from communal taps and use community toilets</a>.  </p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info note">​​​</i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Please note</h4><p>Find out more about where your water comes from and where it goes: Read <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/Water%20Services%20and%20Urban%20Water%20Cycle.pdf" target="_blank">Water Services and the Cape Town Urban Water Cycle</a>.<span>​​​</span><span>​</span></p></div></div>GP0|#0deaa5ce-4efb-4ec2-8b32-ddd5e2cdc528;L0|#00deaa5ce-4efb-4ec2-8b32-ddd5e2cdc528|Water and sanitation services and costs for formal housing;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#b7d85630-8bda-4b28-adc9-6def4cb10e31;GPP|#a3964d56-b74d-4d64-95c1-ff381a88a277;GPP|#245ec7aa-a528-4cd3-bcac-597c292db711Learn about residential water use, your sewer connection, water by-laws, water and sanitation tariffs and how to query your account.0

 

 

Tariff Policies1686154GP0|#ecf0e702-25db-4c12-bbc2-be85db2304fd;L0|#0ecf0e702-25db-4c12-bbc2-be85db2304fd|Policy;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2023-05-31T10:00:00Z
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