Outline

• Where do we get our water?• History of WDM & restrictions• WC/WDM Strategy• Surviving a 1:590 year drought

• Conservation• WDM intensified• Disaster Planning• Augmentation

• New Water Strategy• City Resilience Strategy• Water Resilience Framework

WC/WDM STRATEGY

• As early as 1995, COCT committed itself to saving 10% on historical growth demand of 4%/annum

• Integrated Water Resource Planning (IWRP) Study of 2001 showed that WC/WDM initiatives are most feasible cost-effective water augmentation options

• First WC/WDM Strategy published in 2001

• Periodically updated, 2015/16 review version here https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/WCWDM_Strategy_doc.pdf

One-in-590 year drought, the 2015-2017 drought crisis7

Theewaterskloof Dam, 2017

For Cape Town, 3-year drought continuing meant that demand had be brought down drastically

A peak of 1 200 Ml/day in 2015 had to be reduced to 450 Ml/day

Water ConservationAwareness & consumer education • What is expected of all citizens?• What are the restrictions?• How to save water?• Water saving targets?

Response teams– Staff recruited – Additional response teams

established– Reduction in time to attend to water

leaks & burst pipes

Leak detection teams– Up-scaling of specialist leak detection

teams

– Suburbs with high concentrations of leaks targeted

Water Demand Management

Indigent household repairs– Private indigent properties with

high water consumption identified

– Programme established for free

repairs / replacement of plumbing

fittings

Council properties• Water-efficient taps and other water fittings

installed on council properties

Water Demand Management

Recycled water (treated effluent)– Construction industry & other users encouraged to use

recycled water instead of drinking water

– Improved access: available at wastewater treatment

works,

and 32 collection points established throughout the city

Public access to springs– Upgraded & relocated public spring water collection point

established in Newlands (2018) and Vredehoek (2019)

Water Demand Management

• Tenders in place for installation of Water Saving Devices in Municipal Buildings

• Now installed at most water and sanitation facilities including Depots, treatment works and staff housing.

• Other Directorates such as parks participating.

• Alternative water sources connected where feasible

• Contributed towards overall WCWDM savings

Retrofits

Water Demand Management

Water reuse– Zandvliet 10 Ml/day demonstration reuse

plant completed in 2018

– Permanent reuse plant in planning

Desalination– Temporary desalination plants established:

– Monwabisi (7 Ml/day)

– Standfontein (7 Ml/day)

– Fast-tracked: production started May 2018

– Permanent desalination plant in planning

Augmentation and Diversification

Temporary Desalination (14 MLD)35

A drought lesson on resource infrastructure

• Cannot build oneself out of a drought, large scale projects take time

• City mainly survived because of – Daily Dam abstraction management of dwindling resources– Intensive WDM Measures in parallel– City organization as a whole and community tackling problem together

Our shared water futureCape Town Water Strategy

Approved May 2019

Strategy Updatein response to the drought

Our shared water futureCape Town Water Strategy

Approved May 2019https://www.capetown.gov.za/general/cape-town-water-strategy

1. Safe access to water and sanitation for all

2. Wise water use through pricing, regulation, active citizenship, network management

3. Sufficient, reliable water from diverse sources:surface, ground, desalination, reuse (Water resilient by 2030)

4. Shared benefits & managed risks from regional water resources

5. Water sensitive city by 2040

Five commitments in the Water Strategy

1. Safe access to water and sanitation for all Inclusion

5. Water sensitive city by 2040 Sustainability

2. Wise water use through pricing, regulation, active citizenship, network management

3. Sufficient, reliable water from diverse sources:surface, ground, desalination, reuse (Water resilient by 2030)

4. Shared benefits & managed risks from regional water resources

Resilience(drought response)