​Welcome to the Water and Sanitation Directorate. Find out more about what we do and how you can reach us.

What we do

We provide Cape Town’s residents, business and industry with clean, safe and reliable drinking water and treat wastewater. This entails many diverse responsibilities ranging from the management of water catchments areas and water storage to the treatment of wastewater and its safe disposal back into the environment.
 
Our infrastructure includes 14 dams, 12 water treatment works, 620 pump stations, 180 reservoirs and 23 wastewater treatment facilities. Our teams maintain more than 20 000 km of pipeline and respond to more than 1 000 service requests daily (including pipe bursts, water leaks and sewer blockages).

For further information download our Water Services and the Cape Town Urban Water Cycle booklet or watch our video.

We work to the highest standards and aim to deliver excellent water and sanitation services. We have received a number of awards for providing some of the best drinking water in the country, the quality of our wastewater treatment, the lowest water losses of all metropolitan areas in the country, and the excellence of our systems. We aim to reduce vulnerability to climate change and other shocks through the implementation of our 2019 Cape Town Water Strategy.

We conducted an annual Water and Sanitation Customer Satisfaction Survey to gain insight into your needs and measure customer satisfaction in terms of what is expected by the Consumer Charter.

View the latest Customer Satisfaction Survey Report.

We include

​Bulk Water Branch

The Bulk Water Branch manages water catchment areas, storage dams, groundwater sources, water treatment works and bulk water bulk supply lines.

Reticulation Branch

The Reticulation Branch distributes drinking water to consumers and conveys wastewater to treatment works through a network of pipelines, pump stations and reservoirs. They also convey treated effluent (recycled) water to large users and to collection points for construction and industrial contractors.

Catchment, Stormwater and River Management Branch

The Catchment, Stormwater and River Management Branch is responsible for strategic planning for the City’s stormwater system, which includes the management of river systems and their drainage catchments in order to manage flood risk, improve water quality and optimise the harvesting of stormwater as a valuable water resource.

Wastewater Treatment Works Branch

Wastewater treatment works have the important job of treating used water (effluent) and making it safe before discharging it into the environment.

Water Demand Management and Strategy Branch

The Water Demand Management and Strategy Branch provides a planning service and is responsible for policy development and the development and enforcement of by-laws. The branch also coordinates water demand management programmes, quality management, awareness programmes, information management and business reporting.

Engineering and Asset Management Branch

The Engineering and Asset Management Branch ensures the electrical and mechanical maintenance of the water and sanitation equipment and facilities. They also provide risk management, fleet management and health and safety services for the Water and Sanitation Directorate.

Scientific Services Branch​​

The Scientific Services Branch ensures that our water is of excellent quality and in compliance with strict water quality checks as prescribed by the national Department of Water and Sanitation. Scientific Services conducts extensive testing of drinking water including chemical and microbiological analysis in accordance with SANS 241:2015. In addition, they test treated wastewater from wastewater treatment works, water from rivers and vleis, and perform air pollution testing.

Finance and Commercial Branch

The Finance and Commercial Branch’s functions include revenue management (including meter reading and billing), budgeting and accounting.

Auxiliary Services Branch

The Auxiliary Services Branch provides an administrative role to the Water and Sanitation Directorate including information management, record management, ​facilities management, the coordination of EPWP employees and provide communication and stakeholder management.

HR Business Partner Branch

​​The HR Business Partner Branch provides an administrative role to the Water and Sanitation Directorate, which includes training and human relations support.​

Communications and Partnerships Branch

The Communications and Partnerships Branch supports the departments in the Water and Sanitation Directorate by liaising with the media, planning events, running campaigns and managing relationships with stakeholders.  

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Department highlights

Contact us

​Contact the 24-hour Corporate Contact Centre to report an issue such as:

• burst pipes and water leaks;
• faulty water meter;
• blocked and overflowing sewer;
• pollution to stormwater and river;
• illegal use of water (dampening of building sand, hosing down paved areas, watering outside stipulated hours, tampering with water connections);
• missing or stolen manhole cover; and
• damaged or vandalised communal taps or toilets in informal settlements.