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Where does my wastewater go?<span> <h2 class="sectHeading">​​​​​​​​​​​​​Where does my wastewater go?​​​​​​​</h2></span> <p>​​The water that you flush down your bath, shower, sink, toilet, or other drains, as well as the <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/commercial-utility-services/commercial-water-and-sanitation-services/disposing-of-industrial-effluent">industrial liquid waste</a> that is permitted in our sewer system, is ultimately discharged into our rivers, vleis, and the sea. However, before it gets there, we make sure to clean the wastewater and make it safe to discharge into the environment. ​​We also recycle and reuse approximately 10% of all the water used in Cape Town for irrigation and industrial purposes.</p> <span>​</span><span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info toptip">​​​</i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Top tip</h4><p> <b>Learn about the urban water cycle:</b> Find out how we convey wastewater via the sewer network to a treatment works, and how it is treated and returned to the environment or recycled by downloading <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/Water%20Services%20and%20Urban%20Water%20Cycle.pdf" target="_blank">Water Services and the Cape Town Urban Water Cycle​</a>.</p></div></div></span> <p>To find out where your wastewater is treated, view our <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Maps%20and%20statistics/Where%20does%20my%20wastewater%20go_sewer%20catchment.pdf" target="_blank">map showing sewer catchment areas​</a>.</p><p> <span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-0">Our sewer network is designed to flow using the force of gravity and where your wastewater goes is largely dependent on which sewer catchment area you are located in. </span> <span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-0">Help us to look after our sanitation system in order to protect our rivers and water bodies from pollution and to keep our streets clean. <br> <br> <strong>Learn about how you can help:</strong></span></p><ul><li> ​<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/residential-utility-services/residential-water-and-sanitation-services/prevent-blocked-sewers">prevent blocked sewers</a></li><li> </li><li> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Residential-utility-services/Residential-water-and-sanitation-services/Keep-our-sewers-free-of-stormwater">keep our sewers free of stormwater</a><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-0">​</span></li><li> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Work%20and%20business/Commercial-utility-services/Commercial-water-and-sanitation-services/Disposing-of-industrial-effluent">dispose of industrial effluent responsibly</a><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-0"><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Work%20and%20business/Commercial-utility-services/Commercial-water-and-sanitation-services/Disposing-of-industrial-effluent">​</a></span></li></ul>GP0|#1a14136f-334a-4e46-99b8-ecff9ad911ca;L0|#01a14136f-334a-4e46-99b8-ecff9ad911ca|Where does my waste water go?;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#dc7d603c-ae6b-49eb-8ff7-8f48e6169510;GPP|#99fac000-f3ac-4774-9ffd-e5e59a130e21;GPP|#e88ff549-973f-4e3c-a46c-cfbe61bd6a24;GP0|#71ac1ce7-d5a6-4aef-adce-3e4480187c97;L0|#071ac1ce7-d5a6-4aef-adce-3e4480187c97|Where does my waste water go?;GPP|#b7d85630-8bda-4b28-adc9-6def4cb10e31;GPP|#a3964d56-b74d-4d64-95c1-ff381a88a277;GPP|#245ec7aa-a528-4cd3-bcac-597c292db711Discover where your used water goes, and learn about how we treat wastewater and recycle used water.

 

 

Sewerage Catchment Areas Map 2545538GP0|#816346e9-401b-4120-ab33-f8b010e35cd1;L0|#0816346e9-401b-4120-ab33-f8b010e35cd1|Map;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#2ee73080-1b32-4320-889d-034e60d31b3a;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2015-12-31T22:00:00Z
Water Services and the Cape Town Urban Water Cycle Booklet3776727GP0|#5702b03d-251a-4a3f-8243-b5b3f7bb764a;L0|#05702b03d-251a-4a3f-8243-b5b3f7bb764a|Booklet;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#5340fe0b-73a7-472c-bef7-04e450fb5c4f;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2018-08-24T10:00:00Z

 

 

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