Water usage has yet again peaked, this time reaching 1 062MLD a day.
Lower annual rainfall last year resulted in reduced inflows to dams, placing increased pressure on the City’s water supply system. While taps are not at risk of running dry at this stage, continued high water use could rapidly change the situation and result in restrictions unless consumption is brought down urgently.
Recent usage trends published in the City’s weekly water dashboard:
- 10 December 2025 – 1 029MLD
- 15 December 2025 – 1 029MLD
- 22 December 2025 – 1 039MLD
- 29 December 2025 – 1 010MLD
- 5 January 2026 – 1 048MLD
- 12 January 2026 – 1 037MLD
- 19 January 2026 – 1 050MLD
‘Water usage this past week has unfortunately peaked, so we are 87 million litres a day over our target. Team Cape Town, we need all hands on deck to help bring our collective use down.
'All of us use water, so let's do what we can to protect our supply. Early proactive measures are far more effective than emergency restriction.
‘We must reduce the unnecessary litres of water used in our homes, in industrial and agricultural processes and at work. We can’t afford to be complacent. We must closely keep track of consumption indicators on a weekly basis,' said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
City’s actions to protect and build resilient water supply
‘The City is busy with various actions, including consistently resolving reported pipe bursts and water leaks reported through official channels. Since the drought, the City has and continues to invest in upgrading aged water pipes, improving pressure management, fixing leaks faster and strengthening metering along the water supply network.
‘The City is also actively progressing with strategic plans for Cape Town’s new water supply to build our water secure future. In the long term, to reduce dependency on rain-fed dams, the City is scheduled to proactively add new water sources, such as desalination and water reuse to our supply from 2031,’ said Councillor Badroodien.
Key tips to keep water usage down:
- Find and fix water leaks on your property.
- If dripping taps, leaking toilets and faulty plumbing go undetected and ignored for a long time, a lot of water is wasted.
- Monitor your own usage and make the effort to save water.
- About 70% of all water used in the city is used in homes, which is why saving water at home is so critical. Only water the garden at night to prevent evaporation and avoid topping up swimming pools or pool inflatables unnecessarily.
Report burst municipal pipes immediately to the City through formal channels
There are various ways to report a leak or a pipe burst:
Please provide an exact location or address and always insist on a reference number.
Switch to treated effluent re-use for industrial irrigation or construction purposes.
The City promotes and supplies treated effluent to large water users such as industry, sports clubs, golf clubs, large new developments and schools.
More water saving tips, visit the City's website.
