During her opening address Alderman Limberg said, ‘As Cape Town’s relationship with water continues to evolve, use of alternative sources has become increasingly popular. The City is committed to optimising the various water sources available, and the construction of this new collection point is the latest move towards achieving that. The sixth principle of the ten that inform the City’s Water Strategy focuses on harnessing the water that flows through the urban environment, and where viable to do so in terms of volume, investing in them.

‘This is the second formalised spring water collection point built by the City. The enormous popularity of the Newlands Spring, which was located at the end of a quiet residential street, meant that residents were struggling to access their homes. The City thus built the formalised collection point in order to support residents’ continued ability to access the water in a safe and controlled environment. This helped to minimise impact on those who live there.

‘Capetonians have set the benchmark for water efficiency.  A big part of being water wise is making use of alternative water where it’s appropriate to do so. We remind residents that this water is not treated, so we cannot guarantee its safety for drinking, but would like to encourage residents to make use of it for any other purposes.’

The National Department of Water and Sanitation has issued the City with a licence to manage the Bradwell Spring. Spring water, like all water, is a national resource which is regulated by the National Department of Water and Sanitation and the City works closely with this department to manage the springs.

In 2017, the City undertook the project to divert an additional two million litres of water from the Oranjezicht Main Springs Chamber to the Molteno Reservoir. This was part of its Water Resilience Programme that increased the supply of drinking water.

Information about the Bradwell water collection site:

• The site is located next to Yeoville Sports field in Vredehoek
• There are four taps in a formal structure which has a platform for containers to stand on, and a drainage system. It is foreseen that these four taps will cater to the current needs of water collectors. The City will monitor the situation carefully and evaluate if there are sufficient water outlets
• It will be open seven days a week, from 05:00 to 23:00, and the site has been provided with security
• Each person may collect a maximum of 25 litres at a time to speed up the process of collection. But discretion will be applied if there is no queue at the time
• The limits are not being set on the amount of water that people collect, but to manage the queueing and congestion better and to ensure fair access for all
• The Bradwell Spring water is not treated, and it is used at the residents’ own risk
• This water is not for commercial use, and may not be sold. City staff will monitor the site and act on municipal transgressions as they arise
• Law Enforcement will randomly monitor the site and surrounding area. The site will be managed by 24 hour security guards and EPWP workers during the peak period