Appeal to residents to reduce water usage as Faure Water Treatment Plant undergoes emergency repairs

20 June 2025

The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is appealing to all residents, neighbouring municipalities and businesses to urgently reduce their water usage following a mechanical failure of the treatment residue dewatering equipment at the Faure Water Treatment Plant, which is now placing significant pressure on the drinking water production operations.

The centrifuge machine, critical for managing water treatment residue generated during the water purification process, has experienced a mechanical breakdown. This is impacting the plant’s ability to manage the growing water treatment residue volumes, which is an essential step to ensure uninterrupted water treatment.

‘This breakdown has severely impacted our ability to manage the treatment process and will require the plant to shut down as a precautionary measure. The anticipated water production shortfall will be made up by other water treatment plants connected to the integrated water supply system. Notwithstanding, this poses a significant risk to water supply capacity,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.

The water supply remains safe to drink, and removal of the production plant from the network is a precautionary step to ensure the integrity of our water quality is uncompromised.

While emergency contingency plans are being activated, residents are urgently requested to reduce water use across the metro to alleviate pressure on the system.

City teams are fast-tracking urgent repairs and managing water supply operations across other treatment facilities to stabilise capacity.

‘Our teams are working around the clock and we are calling on all residents to help us get through this critical period by cutting down on non-essential water use. Every drop saved makes a difference,’ said Councillor Badroodien.

The City will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates via its CTAlerts account on X as crucial work progresses. We thank the public for their cooperation and support.

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Published by:
Media Office, City of Cape Town