City of Cape Town Link

Our stormwater system

<h2 class="sectHeading">How our stormwater system works</h2><p>Cape Town’s stormwater system drains the city and prevents disruption and inconvenience to everyday life activities during rain events, as well as assisting with the management of flooding. Our system is an extensive network of built infrastructure – such as pipes and culverts – as well as natural systems like our rivers and wetlands.</p><p>Our <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Stormwater%20Management%20By-law.pdf" target="_blank">Stormwater Management By-law</a> regulates activities which may have a detrimental effect on the development, operation or maintenance of the stormwater system in Cape Town.</p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy light-blue bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info fastfact"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Fast fact</h4><p> Water security is defined as the ability of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and socio-economic development; for ensuring protection against water-borne pollution and water-related disasters; and for preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability. </p></div></div><h4> Cape Town’s stormwater system consists of: </h4><ul><li>150 000 gullies/intakes;</li><li>16 630 kilometres of pipes and culverts;</li><li>890 detention ponds;</li><li>236 stormwater treatment wetlands;</li><li>1 910 kilometres of rivers and streams;</li><li>thousands of wetlands, including ‘vleis’ and estuaries;</li><li>27 stormwater pump stations;</li><li>59 rainfall and flow monitoring stations; and</li><li>approximately 200 inland and coastal water quality monitoring stations.</li></ul><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> <b>Report stormwatwer problems and spills:</b> call <em><a>0800 656 463</a></em> or email <em> <a href="mailto:transport.info@capetown.gov.za">transport.info@capetown.gov.za</a></em>. Make sure to give details of the location or address where the incident occurred or is occurring, and when you first noted the incident. Give a good description of the incident, and any other details you have observed, which may help with the subsequent investigation.</p></div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">Taking care of our stormwater system</h2><p>It is illegal for residents or businesses to discharge anything other than clean stormwater into the stormwater system. Putting any foreign objects into our stormwater system not only contaminates the natural aquatic ecosystems which are part of it, but can lead to blockages that can cause flooding by reducing the capacity of the stormwater system. </p><p>The City embraces the principles of “sustainable urban drainage systems” (SUDS), which aim to manage the drainage system in a way that mimics how the environment naturally controls stormwater and ultimately improves water quality and our river and wetland systems. </p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy light-blue bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info fastfact"> <br></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>Fast fact</h4><p> Our <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Stormwater%20Management%20By-law.pdf" target="_blank">Stormwater By-law</a>, <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Management%20of%20Urban%20Stormwater%20Impacts%20Policy%20-%20approved%20on%2027%20May%202009.pdf" target="_blank">Management of Urban Impacts Policy</a>, and the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Floodplain%20and%20River%20Corridor%20Management%20Policy%20-%20approved%20on%2027%20May%202009.pdf" target="_blank">Floodplain and River Corridor Management Policy</a> provide the framework to protect our stormwater system and waterways. </p></div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">Inland water quality</h2><p>Cape Town's long-term aim is to be a water-sensitive city where rivers, wetlands, canals and streams are accessible, inclusive and safe to use. </p><p>Read the full<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Inland_Water_Quality_Report_FULL.pdf" target="_blank"> 2019</a> and <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Inland_water_quality_report_2020-2021.pdf" target="_blank">2021</a> Inland Water Quality Reports for more information on the current situation.<br></p><h2 class="sectHeading">Liveable urban waterways</h2><p>Learn about the <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/residential-utility-services/residential-water-and-sanitation-services/liveable-urban-waterways">Liveable Urban Waterway (LUW) Programme</a> and how we are rehabilitating waterways across Cape Town.</p>

How we manage our stormwater system to prevent disasters like flooding and protect receiving waters from pollution.

Cape Town 2019 Inland Water Quality Report	20374141	GP0\|#31fe4cb9-13bf-4182-84f9-d96e8a359baf;L0\|#031fe4cb9-13bf-4182-84f9-d96e8a359baf\|Technical reports;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#74dbb0ce-0b0a-42e0-958b-10ee25e7fefd;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2020-07-31T22:00:00Z
Cape Town 2021 Inland Water Quality Report	28558322	GP0\|#31fe4cb9-13bf-4182-84f9-d96e8a359baf;L0\|#031fe4cb9-13bf-4182-84f9-d96e8a359baf\|Technical reports;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#74dbb0ce-0b0a-42e0-958b-10ee25e7fefd;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2023-04-30T22:00:00Z
Standards and Guidelines for Roads and Stormwater	82010127	GP0\|#63522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33;L0\|#063522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33\|Guideline;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#d8892104-ce90-493e-b813-93c488f4b1d3;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2022-01-31T22:00:00Z
Stormwater Management By-law	2549826	GP0\|#d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284;L0\|#0d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284\|By-law;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2005-07-31T22:00:00Z