City’s R140m water pipe replacement programme on track

05 March 2023

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is on track to replace 50 000 meters of water pipeline across Cape Town by June 2023. This annual water pipe replacement programme aims to upgrade and replace ageing water reticulation infrastructure. The water replacements per year are normally between 28 000 meters and 45 000 meters. For this financial year, the target is set at 50 000 meters. This maintenance work also proactively helps the City to reduce water wastage by addressing leaks which supports the City’s call to save water this summer. 

The City is investing over R140 million for this 2022/2023 financial year's annual city-wide water pipe replacement programme to replace ageing water supply pipeline infrastructure. The pipe replacement happens as per a schedule compiled in line with specific criteria which necessitates it, and a section of the Water and Sanitation Directorate's budget is apportioned to this programme.

Last financial year, the City invested just over R100 million in this programme and replaced 51 084 meters.

The water replacements per year are normally between 28 000 meters and 45 000 meters. For this financial year, the target is set at 50 000 meters, of which 23 823 meters of water pipeline were replaced by the end of January 2023.

Acting Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation Councillor Siseko Mbandezi visited Fairfield Estate in Parow to see the team hard at work.

'This financial year, the City is investing R37 million more into our water pipe replacement programme, compared to the previous financial year, bringing it to over R140 million that will be spent by June. We are very happy to see that the water pipe replacement programme is progressing well. Thus far 77% of the budget has been assigned to water network projects, of which 35% are completed. This ensures that our residents can continue to have a reliable water supply while we also see less water wasted because of leaks,' said Councillor Mbandezi

• Areas already completed this financial year and nearing completion:
  
  Constantia, Bergvliet, Elfindale, Ottery, Ocean View, Ottery, Fish Hoek, Tokai, Wetton, Scarborough, Somerset West, Kuils River, Table View, Duynefontein, Durbanville, Brackenfell, Bellville, Summer Greens, Goodwood, Bridgetown, Schaapkraal, Philippi, Bishopscourt, Gatesville and Parow
  
   
• Areas still to be completed by the end of this financial year in June:
  
  Bellville South, Scottsdene, Welgemoed and Loevenstein
  
   
  
  The City considers the likelihood and consequence of failure when identifying and prioritising pipes for replacement. One of the parameters which informs the pipe replacement assessment is failures reported/logged by the public.
  
   
  

Use less water this summer

The City is calling on residents to help Cape Town collectively use less than the target of 850 million litres of water a day.

This is so we can keep our dams and reservoirs fuller for longer, and help reduce the impact of prolonged high stages of load-shedding.

'While City teams are monitoring the water supply operations and usage very closely and doing all they can to maintain supply, we also need our residents to help us during this time by using less water.

'The water pipe replacement programme is one of the ways the City aims to help reduce water wastage. Cape Town, we are in this together. We have done this before so I am confident we can work together again – this time to cut non-essential outdoor water use in half to stay below the 850 million litres daily usage target.

'Residents are reminded of the restrictions related to pools, outdoor water use such as gardening, vehicle cleaning and other aspects, that are in place at all times, to help save water because we are in a water-scarce region,' said Councillor Mbandezi.

For more information visit: www.capetown.gov.za/savewater

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office