City of Cape Town Link

Water quality

<div class="ExternalClass292D3528764540E59528594AD22E9D2C"><p>We are committed to providing quality water to Cape Town’s water users, and we regularly check the City’s water quality through a system of water sampling and analysis. </p></div>

<h2 class="sectHeading">Water quality assurance</h2><p>Watch the below video (<a href="https://youtu.be/FPR3yaGideo" target="_blank">Afrikaans</a><i class="icon link-external"></i> | <a href="https://youtu.be/SFKuClXIpAg" target="_blank">Xhosa</a><i class="icon link-external"></i> ) to see how Cape Town's water is treated and tested to make sure it is safe for you to drink.</p><div class="responsive-media"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_QOmfj3hPF0" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div><p>We fully support and comply with strict water quality checks as prescribed by the national government’s Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). This rigorous process means that water quality is closely monitored via a large number of water samples analysed according to the stringent South African National Standards (SANS 241:2015) requirements. Read this page to find out more about the quality of Cape Town’s water, and the processes we use to ensure water quality.</p><p>To ensure the excellent quality of our water, our laboratory tests over 5 700 samples of water each year. We draw water from sampling points throughout the water system, and we test these samples on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.</p><h4> Our water samples are taken from:</h4><ul><li>raw water (from dams and boreholes);</li><li>water after it has been treated at the treatment plants;</li><li>water from reservoirs; and</li><li>water from pipework (taken from designated sampling points around Cape Town).</li></ul> <span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Water quality table</h2></span> <p>Our weekly checks of water samples allow us to measure our compliance with SANS 241 water quality requirements. Our water compliance has consistently exceeded our own internal targets. </p><p> <strong>The table below shows the percentage compliance achieved for Cape Town’s drinking water:</strong></p><table><thead><tr><th rowspan="1" colspan="5">Drinking water quality in Cape Town - percentage summary</th></tr><tr><th></th><th colspan="1">2020 - 2021</th><th colspan="1">2021 - 2022</th><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">2022 - 2023<br></th><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">2023-2024</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">Quarter 1 (Jul - Sep)</th><td colspan="1">99.2<br></td><td colspan="1">99.1<br></td><td colspan="1">99.5<br></td><td colspan="1">99.1<br></td></tr><tr><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">Quarter 2 (Oct - Dec)</th><td colspan="1">99.1<br></td><td colspan="1">99.1</td><td colspan="1">99.4<br></td><td colspan="1">99.2<br></td></tr><tr><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">Quarter 3 (Jan - Mar)</th><td colspan="1">99.1<br></td><td colspan="1">99.0</td><td colspan="1">99.3<br></td><td colspan="1">99.2<br></td></tr><tr><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">Quarter 4 (Apr - Jun)</th><td rowspan="1" colspan="1">99.1<br></td><td rowspan="1" colspan="1">99.0<br></td><td rowspan="1" colspan="1">99.2<br></td><td rowspan="1" colspan="1">99.3<br></td></tr></tbody></table> <br> <h4>Annual water quality test results</h4><p>To see the latest annual water quality test results, view our water analysis report:<br></p><p>Annual Water Quality Analysis Report July 2023 - June 2024 (<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Annual_Tap_Water_Quality_Analysis_2024_English.pdf" target="_blank">English</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Annual_Tap_Water_Quality_Analysis_2024_Afrikaans.pdf" target="_blank"> Afrikaans</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Annual_Tap_Water_Quality_Analysis_2024_Xhosa.pdf" target="_blank"> isiXhosa</a>) </p><h4>Quarterly water quality test results</h4><p> To see the latest quarterly water quality test results, view our water analysis report:<br></p><p> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Oct-Dec_2024_Quarterly_Tap_Water_Quality_Report.pdf" target="_blank">Quarterly Water Quality Analysis Report October - December 2024</a></p> <span> <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> The quarterly report refers to the quarters in the City’s financial year (July to June) not a calendar year.</p></div></div></span> <div class="content-accordion"><div class="content-trigger contentTrigger"><h3>Report archive<i class="icon button-down-arrow"></i></h3><div class="content-toggle contentToggle" style="display:none;"><p> <strong>Annual reports</strong><br>July 2022 - June 2023 (<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Annual_tap_water_quality_2023_English.pdf" target="_blank">English</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Annual_tap_water_quality_2023_Afrikaans.pdf" target="_blank">Afrikaans</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Annual_tap_water_quality_2023_Xhosa.pdf" target="_blank">isiXhosa</a>) <br>July 2021 - June 2022 (<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/CCT_tap_water_quality%202021-2022_Report_ENG.pdf" target="_blank">English</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/CCT_tap_water_quality%202021-2022_Report_AFR.pdf" target="_blank">Afrikaans</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/CCT_tap_water_quality%202021-2022_Report_XHO.pdf" target="_blank">isiXhosa</a>) <br>July 2020 - June 2021 (<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Tap_Water_Quality_Analysis_Jul20-Jun21_Eng.pdf" target="_blank">English</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Tap_Water_Quality_Analysis_Jul20-Jun21_Afr.pdf" target="_blank">Afrikaans</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Tap_Water_Quality_Analysis_Jul20-Jun21_Xho.pdf" target="_blank">isiXhosa</a>)<br>July 2019 - June 2020 (<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/WaterQualityAnalysisReport_July2019-June2020_English.pdf" target="_blank">English</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/WaterQualityAnalysisReport_July2019-June2020_Afrikaans.pdf" target="_blank">Afrikaans</a>) <br>July 2018 - June 2019 (<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Water%20Quality%20Analysis%20Report%20%28English%29%202018_19.pdf" target="_blank">English</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Water%20Quality%20Analysis%20Report%20%28Afrikaans%29%202018_19.pdf" target="_blank">Afrikaans</a>)<br>July 2017 - June 2018 (<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Water%20Quality%20Analysis%20Report%20July17-June18%20%20English.pdf" target="_blank">English</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Water%20Quality%20Analysis%20Report%20July17-June18%20%20%20Afrikaans.pdf" target="_blank">Afrikaans</a>) <br>July 2016 - June 2017 (<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Water%20Analysis%20Report_English.pdf" target="_blank">English</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Water%20Analysis%20Report_Afrikaans.pdf" target="_blank">Afrikaans</a>)<br><a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Analytical%20Drinking%20Water%20Data%201%20July%202015%20to%2030%20June%202016.pdf" target="_blank">July 2015 - June 2016</a><br>June 2014 - May 2015 (<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/CT_Water_Analysis_Report_01Jun2014_31May2015_ENGLISH.pdf" target="_blank">English</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/CT_Water_Analysis_Report_01Jun2014_31May2015_AFRIKAANS.pdf" target="_blank">Afrikaans</a>)<br>June 2013 - May 2014 (<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Water_Analysis_Advert_English_01Aug2014.pdf" target="_blank">English</a> | <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Water_Analysis_Advert_Afrikaans.pdf" target="_blank">Afrikaans</a>)<br><br><strong>Quarterly reports<br></strong> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Jul-Sep_2024_Quarterly_Tap_Water_Quality_Report.pdf" target="_blank">July - September 2024</a><br><a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Apr-June_2024_Quarterly_Tap%20Water_Quality_Report.pdf" target="_blank">April - June 2024</a><br><a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Jan-Mar_2024_Quarterly_Tap%20Water_Quality_Report.pdf" target="_blank">January - March 2024</a><br><a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Oct-Dec_2023_Quarterly_tap_water_quality_Report.pdf" target="_blank">October - December 2023</a><br><a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Jul-Sep_2023_Quarterly_tap_water_quality_Report.pdf" target="_blank">July - September 2023</a><br></p></div></div></div> <span> <h2 class="sectHeading">How we ensure water quality</h2></span> <p>We use our Quality Management System to ensure the high water quality of domestic and industrial water supplies, and to ensure that our rivers, public amenities, and environment remain unpolluted. Our Quality Management System covers three Scientific Services laboratories: the Water, Analytical and Biological Sciences Laboratories. </p> <span> <div class="notification with-heading white-copy blue bg-navy"><div class="graphic no-border"> <i class="info wellrun"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Did you know?</h4><p> <b>A Well-run City:</b> The City has been awarded many Blue Drop Certificates by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) for its water quality and water quality management systems. Cape Town also received the Platinum Blue Drop Award for its consistent excellent performance over a number of years. </p></div></div></span> <p>Find out more about how we go about our testing and quality assurance in our handbook below: </p><p> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/Water%20quality%20-%20assurance%20through%20testing%20.pdf.pdf" target="_blank">Water Quality: Assurance Through Testing Handbook</a></p>

Learn about Cape Town’s water quality, and the methods we use to check and ensure water quality.

Water Quality: Assurance Through Testing Handbook

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2015-12-31T22:00:00Z