Cape Town hits halfway mark in conventional water meter upgrade
20 April 2026
More than 33 000 new, mechanical water meters have replaced old ones, marking the halfway point of a City-wide drive. This programme focuses on replacing conventional water meters with a newer version to restore accuracy and reliability. Residents are reminded that this initiative is separate from the City’s transition to AMI smart water metering technology, which is simultaneously being installed in phases in pilot areas.
A total of 33 654 conventional meters were replaced by 31 March 2026 as part of the tally for the current 2025/2026 financial year. This builds on steady progress made since the programme began in August 2025, aiming to replace 62 000 meters by the end of June 2026.
This proactive infrastructure investment forms part of the City’s commitment to improving billing accuracy, enhancing service reliability and updating ageing infrastructure annually.
The Conventional Water Meter Replacement Programme aims to:
Replace aged (metal) or faulty water meters with newer versions.
Relocate water meters from inside private properties to more accessible locations for easier reading and maintenance.
Install new water connections for individual land buyers intending to develop homes or businesses.
There are 621 areas across Cape Town where these replacements are currently taking place or have been earmarked for roll-out in the upcoming months. Areas with the highest number of replacements scheduled (i.e. 300 or more) include Table View, Plumstead, Sunningdale, Rondebosch, Athlone, Ottery, Tokai, Wynberg, Melkbostrand, Edgemead, Townsend Estate, Camps Bay/Bakoven, Lentegeur, Brooklyn, Vasco Estate, Tygerdal, Southfield, Diep River, Bothasig, Bonnie Brae, Durbanville, Wetton, Richmond Estate, Goodwood Estate, Parklands, Rondebosch East, Hout Bay, Parow North, Churchill Estate, Glenlily, Belgravia and Parow Valley.
Additional ad hoc replacements also take place across the city where faulty or ageing meters are identified.
‘This R72 million annual programme is vital for keeping our water infrastructure up to date and ensuring residents are billed accurately based on actual usage. An accurate reading saves both water and money as it reduces estimates and allows customers to track their water use, identify spikes and detect possible leaks. Residents can continue to submit their own monthly water meter readings to the City,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
What residents need to know about the water meter replacement process
A City-appointed contractor, Gunning Construction and Civils (Pty) Ltd, is installing the meters across Cape Town.
Property owners will receive an official City letter confirming the need for meter replacement as part of planned maintenance.
If unsure, residents can verify the contractor’s validity using the contact details below before allowing access into their home.
If no one is home when a contractor visits, a seven-day notice will be left with details of the next scheduled visit.
How to verify contractors for this project
Residents can use their account number to verify the validity of the work when contacting the City on the following channels:
For more information on how to submit monthly water meter readings, residents can visit the City’s website.
Caption 1: The replacement of water meters took place in Richmond Estate in Goodwood on 23 February 2026.
Caption 2: City-appointed contractors replacing ageing water meters in Richmond Estate as part of the metro-wide programme.
Caption 3: (From left) Siyabonga Amos, Bongani Sithole, Noeghiedeen Hendricks, Jamie-Lee Frank, Jason January, Ntobeko Elliot and Russel Chanquin during meter replacement work in Richmond Estate, Goodwood.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
