Water and sanitation tariffs

Tariffs are based on how much water you use, which we can calculate by reading your water meter and adding a fixed charge. Residential properties are based on a sliding scale or 'stepped tariff' to encourage water-saving habits.

Find out more about water restrictions.

Most commonly used water and sanitation tariffs
Sanitation - Consumptive tariffs
Water - Consumptive tariffs

For more information, you can access the:

• General Tariff Policy

Tariffs explained

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.

Find out how your water reaches the tap in your home. 

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.

Fixed basic charge

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.

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.

Find out more about the fixed basic charge for water.

Water availability charge

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:

• public open space,
• private roads,
• vacant land rented from Council, and
• vacant land without water services where the property’s boundary is more than 30 meters away from these services.

Indigent households

Registered indigent households 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.

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 – find out more.

Households in informal settlements are supplied water from communal taps and use community toilets. 

Document downloads

• 1. Tariff Policies

     26/06/2026, Policy - 970.1 KB

  2. Water and Sanitation Tariffs

     01/07/2026, Tariff - 177.8 KB

  3. Water and Sanitation-Sanitation Tariffs

     01/07/2026, Budget annexure,Tariff - 2 MB

  4. Water and Sanitation-Water Tariffs

     01/07/2026, Budget annexure,Tariff - 1.9 MB