Think water
Cape Town is in a water scarce region and rainfall patterns remain uncertain.
Our shared water future
Cape Town has initiated a collaborative approach to our water future. Learn about the
Cape Town Water Strategy and Cape Town's plan for a more resilient future with sufficient water for all.
New water supply projects
Inland water quality
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.
Read the full Inland Water Quality Reports for more information on the current situation:
For enquiries, email:
Inland.WaterQuality@capetown.gov.za.
Water Quality Dashboard
The Inland Water Quality Dashboard is a user-friendly platform that allows you to view and monitor the quality of the City's inland water bodies.
VIEW DASHBOARD
Saving water
Cape Town is the number one water-saving city in the world. Find out more on how to save water.
DAM LEVELS
View the latest
dam levels of the dams serving the Cape Town municipal supply area.
Alternative water sources
By using
alternative water sources such as grey water, groundwater, rain water, treated effluent, boreholes and wells, you can help conserve our drinking water and reduce costs.
However, alternative water must be used responsibly and in accordance with rules and regulations to ensure safety. Before going this route, please consult our
Guidelines for the installation of alternative water systems and the
summary guide.
Water restrictions
Even though our dam levels have increased, rainfall remains well below the long-term average. Protect our water resources - adhere to
water regulations.
Water restrictions
Water restrictions are not in effect, since 1 November 2020. In terms of the
Water By-law,
permanent water-saving regulations are in place. Please continue to use water responsibly - failure to comply may result in a fine or prosecution.
Find out more about
water restrictions.
Report water issues and offences
Help us save water, report water issues (e.g. burst pipes or faulty meters) and restriction offences:
Document downloads
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Cape Town 2019 Inland Water Quality Report
31/07/2020, Technical reports - 20.4 MB
Cape Town 2021 Inland Water Quality Report
30/04/2023, Technical reports - 28.6 MB
Cape Town 2024 Inland Water Quality Report
31/03/2024, Technical reports - 32.8 MB
Cape Town 2024 Inland Water Quality Report Summary
30/04/2024, Technical reports - 6 MB
Cape Town Water Strategy: February 2020
18/02/2020, Strategy - 3.1 MB
DIY Guide to Finding and Fixing Water Leaks (Afrikaans)
22/11/2022, Guideline - 711.1 KB
DIY Guide to Finding and Fixing Water Leaks (English)
22/11/2022, Guideline - 577.8 KB
DIY Guide to Finding and Fixing Water Leaks (isiXhosa)
22/11/2022, Guideline - 682.5 KB
Desalination Booklet (Afrikaans)
24/06/2020, Booklet - 739.2 KB
Desalination Booklet (English)
25/06/2020, Booklet - 750.7 KB
Desalination Booklet (isiXhosa)
25/06/2020, Booklet - 740.9 KB
Find and Fix Leaks at Home Poster
23/11/2022, Poster - 332.6 KB
Find and Fix Leaks at Home Poster (Afrikaans)
23/11/2022, Poster - 518.1 KB
Find and Fix Leaks at Home Poster (isiXhosa)
23/11/2022, Poster - 523.4 KB
Our Water and Sanitation System Poster
28/07/2024, Poster - 360.7 KB
Safe Use of Greywater Booklet
22/12/2022, Booklet - 315.6 KB
Safe Use of Greywater Booklet (Afrikaans)
22/12/2022, Booklet - 316.7 KB
Safe Use of Greywater Booklet (isiXhosa)
22/12/2022, Booklet - 312.6 KB
Tariff Policies
25/06/2025, Policy - 906.9 KB
Water Outlook Report 2024
30/03/2024, Report - 3.5 MB
Water Outlook Report: October 2020
30/09/2020, Report - 3.2 MB
Water Services and the Cape Town Urban Water Cycle Booklet
24/08/2018, Booklet - 3.8 MB
Water Use Regulations (Afrikaans)
12/02/2023, Regulation - 78.9 KB
Water Use Regulations (English)
12/02/2023, Regulation - 92.4 KB
Water Use Regulations (Xhosa)
13/02/2023, Regulation - 78.8 KB
Water and Sanitation-Sanitation Tariffs
30/06/2025, Budget annexure,Tariff - 2.2 MB
Water and Sanitation-Water Tariffs
30/06/2025, Budget annexure,Tariff - 1.5 MB
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