Water tariffs set to rise gradually as City of Cape Town invests in future supply

Cape Town is moving ahead with two major water projects to secure the city’s long-term water supply, city officials have confirmed. 

The first is the Faure New Water Scheme (FNWS), a large-scale wastewater recycling plant that will purify treated effluent to a standard safe for human consumption. 

The second is the Paarden Eiland Desalination Plant, designed to use seawater to supplement supplies during periods of high demand.

Michael Killick, the City of Cape Town's Director for Bulk Services, says the Faure project will add 300 million litres per day to the city’s water system. It will use advanced purification processes before blending with surface water.

He adds that the desalination plant will provide up to 70 million litres per day, primarily to the CBD and Molteno Reservoir, and will initially operate on demand before potentially becoming a continuous supply source.

"In terms of our water strategy, we want to create 300 mega litres per day of additional water, and that's made up of a number of schemes - desalination, reuse, groundwater, curing of invasive alien plants and a surface water scheme. All of these projects are fairly advanced, either in implementation or in the planning phase at the moment."

While residents can expect water tariffs to rise, Killick emphasised the cost of restrictions would far outweigh the investment. 

"The impact of the Faure New Water Scheme itself is round about 7% on the water tariffs, and the desalination around 13% on the water tariffs itself - and that's in real terms, excluding inflation.

"We hope to phase these tariffs in over a number of years. I think it is understandable that the cost of water will increase for the City of Cape Town, but you know, we need to do that to ensure water security. 

To listen to Michael Killick in conversation with CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit, click the audio below: