Our stormwater system
The City of Cape Town strives to be a water-sensitive city and is therefore very focused on the urban water cycle and water security. Our stormwater drainage system is a key part of how we sustainably and effectively maintain this cycle.
How our stormwater system works
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.
Our
Stormwater Management By-law regulates activities which may have a detrimental effect on the development, operation or maintenance of the stormwater system in Cape Town.
Fast fact
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.
Cape Town’s stormwater system consists of:
- 150 000 gullies/intakes;
- 16 630 kilometres of pipes and culverts;
- 890 detention ponds;
- 236 stormwater treatment wetlands;
- 1 910 kilometres of rivers and streams;
- thousands of wetlands, including ‘vleis’ and estuaries;
- 27 stormwater pump stations;
- 59 rainfall and flow monitoring stations; and
- approximately 200 inland and coastal water quality monitoring stations.
Please note
Report stormwatwer problems and spills: call
0800 656 463 or email
transport.info@capetown.gov.za. 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.
Taking care of our stormwater system
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.
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.
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.
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