Cape Town switches on first smart water meter
29 April 2026
The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has taken a major step towards technologically advanced water management, with the installation of its first smart meter in Bellville. This officially marks the start of a citywide rollout of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), aimed at early leak detection, improving billing accuracy, and overall system efficiency.
The AMI programme forms part of a broader initiative by the Directorate to modernise water metering and improve service delivery by replacing all mechanical water meters with digital technology, over time.
The City has allocated approximately R1,1 billion to the first phase of the programme. Over the next three years, around 83 000 existing mechanical meters will be replaced with smart meters.
In the longer term, more than 680 000 meters across Cape Town are expected to be upgraded.
‘Installing smart water meters makes it easier to detect and attend to water leaks, resulting in water savings. Residents will also be able to track the volume of water consumed on their properties on the City’s App, to save money on their water bills. Among several other benefits, the new AMI meter readings are digitally automated, which provides accuracy in meter readings and customer billing,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
Benefits of smart meters
The smart meters automatically record and transmit water usage data, eliminating the need for manual readings and reducing the risk of human error.
Customers will benefit from improved transparency, with access to detailed daily consumption data, as well as receive alerts from the City’s App on water leaks or unusual usage patterns.
The meters also include anti-tampering features, are made from materials with no scrap value and have advanced monitoring capabilities to detect movement or interference. They are designed to last up to 15 years.
Receiving a new meter
Residents whose meters are scheduled to be replaced will be notified in advance and will experience brief, intermittent water supply interruptions during installation.
Residents will be informed via email and SMS, subject to the City having their updated contact details on record. Emails will be sent to the address used for municipal billing.
All installation costs are covered by the City, at no extra charge to the resident.
Authorised PPD Engineering contractors will carry identification cards and operate in clearly marked vehicles.
Residents are encouraged to call and verify contractor and City staff, by contacting the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089. You may also request the service order number to cross check and validate.
The rollout will be implemented in phases, with the first phase running until February 2029.
Between April and June 2026, installations will continue in Oakglen, Bellville, and expand to other areas across the city.
To download FAQs about the AMI Programme visit: https://bit.ly/47flK3n
To download the latest customer information pack, see: https://bit.ly/4dxH7AQ
View our AMI video on the City’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwyAMrnIGB0
Caption 1: (Front left): Siyabulela Bashe (Director: Commercial Services) and Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation (front right), joined by Collin Mubadiro (back left) and Ward Councillor Annelize van Zyl for Ward 3 (middle), with members of the City’s regional operations team during the installation of the first smart water meter.
Caption 2: A representative from the City’s appointed contractor, PPD Engineering and Hardware Supplies, verifies that the newly installed smart water meter is correctly connected to the City’s billing system.
Caption 3: The new smart water meter (left) alongside a conventional mechanical water meter.
Caption 4: Members of the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate project management team with representatives from Ernst & Young and PPD Engineering and Hardware Supplies.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
