Deep dive into the City's 2024 Water Outlook report with progress on new water sources

08 July 2024

The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has released its March 2024 Water Outlook Report, underscoring the critical need for the New Water Programme (NWP), aimed at diversifying water sources to ensure a sustainable and resilient water future.

The report presents a comprehensive analysis of current water resources and highlights the pressing challenges posed by climate change, population growth, and increased water demand. With traditional water sources under increasing strain, the importance of innovative solutions and diversified water sources are important strategies to secure water availability for a growing city.

The Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS) currently serves as Cape Town's primary water source and will remain so until the New Water Programme (NWP) diversifies the city's water sources.

During the 2022/2023 hydrological year (ending 30 October 2023), the WCWSS experienced above-average rainfall, largely driven by two significant storm events.

Key findings from the March 2024 Water Outlook Report include:

Declining water availability:

Traditional water sources are facing unprecedented pressure, with potential significant declines in water availability.

Impact of climate change:

Extreme weather events and shifting climate patterns are exacerbating water scarcity, making it imperative to explore alternative water sources.

Population growth:

Rapid urbanisation and population growth are driving higher water demand, further stressing existing water infrastructure.

Water quality:

Contamination and pollution of water sources are emerging as critical issues, necessitating advanced treatment and management solutions.

Infrastructure resilience:

Maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure is crucial for ensuring the long-term resilience and reliability of Cape Town's water supply system. Initial scoping has indicated that the Infrastructure Stability Programme will require approximately R2 billion over the next decade to be invested in refurbishing existing Water Treatment Plants. This investment will fund projects aimed at addressing identified backlogs, capacity challenges, and constraints.

Through the NWP, the City continues to pursue various water augmentation projects outlined in its Water Strategy, aiming to develop an additional 300 million litres of water supply from diversified sources by 2030.

Water Re-use: Implementing purified recycled wastewater, adding 70 million to 100 million litres a day.
Desalination: Extracting salt from seawater to yield 50 million to 70 million litres a day.
Clearing of invasive plant species and various management interventions: Harnessing water from rivers to contribute an additional 30 million litres a day.
Groundwater: Drilling boreholes and tapping springs securing over 100 million litres a day.

'Ensuring a reliable and safe water supply is a priority for us. Our New Water Programme aims to diversify water sources and implement sustainable practices to safeguard our water future. By effectively planning for alternatives such as water reuse and desalination, we can ensure that our city remains resilient and is well-prepared in case of below average rainfall,' said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water Sanitation.

The Water Outlook 2024 can be viewed here: Water_Outlook_March_2024.pdf (capetown.gov.za)

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office