Water and Sanitation in the City of Cape

Town:
Sustainability uncertain

Kevin Winter
Environmental & Geographical
Science Department
University of Cape Town
Some of the many constraints to
sustainability in the City
• Rapid population growth rate (2.5% between 2001 and
2005) – predicted to continue at 1.3% to 2016
• Increasing water demand (2.7 to 3.7% increase per
annum)
• 7700 households established in CT annually
• Unaccounted for Water still over 19%
• Ecological reserve is not being met (10% of runoff)
• Water Demand Management has limited impact
• WWTW largely fail to comply with DWAF water
quality standards
• CCT housing backlog estimated to between 300 000
and 400 000 units
• By 2015 CT’s rainfall is predicted to decline by 10%
 Water User Categories in CT 2006- 2007

Commercial &
Non-Revenue Industrial
Demand 14%
Unbilled 19%
Departmental
2%
Cluster
2%
Schools and
Sportsfields
1% Domestic Cluster
Municipal 6%
2%
Miscellaneous
6%

Government Domestic Full

2% 46%