The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Department is embarking on a voluntary borehole and wellpoint registration initiative as part of its monitoring and research programmes.

Wellpoints are shallow water extraction shafts with a depth not exceeding 10 m that are mostly used for small – to medium – sized residential gardens. Boreholes are much deeper extractions which are more suitable for the irrigation of larger grassed areas and gardens. The department’s registration initiative will involve both borehole and wellpoint users.

The Water and Sanitation Department commenced an extensive registration project across the city in 2003 while water restrictions were in place due to the dry weather and low dam levels. The process was concluded in 2005 when water restrictions were lifted. The information gathered during the project has provided immense environmental monitoring and research value and the Water and Sanitation Department has therefore decided to extend this initiative.

“It must be stressed that this information is strictly for environmental monitoring and research purposes and members of the public will be participating on a voluntary basis. Specific erven will be registered, not the property owners or occupiers themselves. This is not a revenue or billing exercise and owners or occupiers will not be billed for their borehole or wellpoint water usage or the ownership of a borehole or wellpoint,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, Councillor Shehaam Sims.

The information supplied by residents will be captured in a comprehensive database for internal use and a unique registration number will be allocated to every registered borehole/wellpoint, against the erf number/address.

To register voluntarily, residents simply need to contact the City’s Water Demand Management Section to inform them of a borehole or wellpoint on their property. Please contact Nina Viljoen on 021 400 9964 or via email to nina.viljoen@capetown.gov.za; or Sylvia Nkubu on 021 400 9966 or via email to sylvia.nkubu@capetown.gov.za.

In return, residents will receive a free weather-proof registration sign indicating that the water source on the property originates from a borehole/wellpoint, in accordance with Chapter 10 of the City’s Water By-Law, which was passed in 2010. The sign displays this information in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and the Department’s Water Inspectors will deliver the signs to the property owners who register on the City’s database at no charge. The Water By-Law is available here under the Policies, Laws & By-laws tab.

During the Water and Sanitation Department’s previous borehole/wellpoint registration process, many property owners made the effort to register and were issued with the appropriate “borehole/wellpoint” signs. One of the objectives of the current initiative is to update the existing signage at properties utilising these alternate water sources. The City would therefore appreciate all property owners’ participation.

The sign indicating the presence of a borehole/wellpoint should be placed in a position that is clearly visible from the outside of the property, so that law enforcement officers can tell that a borehole/wellpoint is being used when they enforce the City’s Water By-Law. Although borehole/wellpoint water users are not compelled to comply with the water restrictions relating to watering times as per the City’s Water By-Law, they are urged to please assist the City in preserving this precious resource. All households are encouraged to work within the watering times i.e. no watering between the hours of 10:00 and 16:00 on any day.

Each owner who registers on the database will also receive a ‘Water Saving Champion’ certificate of appreciation from the City to acknowledge their valuable role in helping to offset the use of potable water by relieving the strain on Cape Town’s limited water sources.

“The City calls on all borehole/wellpoint owners to please register voluntarily as part of this process and receive their new updated borehole/wellpoint signs along with their ‘Water Saving Champion’ certificates,” said Councillor Sims.