Where does my wastewater go?

Discover where your wastewater goes, and learn about how the City treats and recycles it. Continue reading the information provided below to find out more:

Where does my wastewater go?

The water that you flush down your bath, shower, sink, toilet, or other drains, as well as the industrial liquid waste that is permitted in our sewer system, is ultimately discharged into our rivers, vleis, and the sea. However, before it gets there, we make sure to clean the wastewater and make it safe to discharge into the environment. We also recycle and reuse approximately 10% of all the water used in Cape Town for irrigation and industrial purposes.

Top tip

Learn about the urban water cycle: Find out how we convey wastewater via the sewer network to a treatment works, and how it is treated and returned to the environment or recycled by downloading Water Services and the Cape Town Urban Water Cycle.

To find out where your wastewater is treated, view our map showing sewer catchment areas.

Our sewer network is designed to flow using the force of gravity and where your wastewater goes is largely dependent on which sewer catchment area you are located in. Help us to look after our sanitation system in order to protect our rivers and water bodies from pollution and to keep our streets clean.

Learn about how you can help:

Document downloads

1. Sewerage Catchment Areas Map
  31/12/2015, Map - 2.5 MB
2. Water Services and the Cape Town Urban Water Cycle Booklet
  24/08/2018, Booklet - 3.8 MB

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