Faure New Water Scheme Feasibility Study

Following the completion of a comprehensive feasibility study on the implementation model for the Faure New Water Scheme, Cape Town City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is inviting the community and other interested stakeholders to provide their comments on the outcome of the study. Comments are open until 21 August 2025.

The Faure New Water Scheme is one of the key drivers of the City’s New Water Programme. The City plans to implement a purified recycled water scheme that will produce 70 million litres of water per day. The scheme will use advanced technology to turn treated wastewater from the newly upgraded Zandvliet Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) into drinking water that meets South African and international quality standards. This is one of the City’s major projects to increase our drinking water supply by 300 million litres per day, from different sources by 2030.

The full report on the Feasibility Study for the Faure New Water Scheme can be accessed here. Comments, input or recommendations can be submitted by 21 August 2025 via the following platforms:

• Email: Public.Participation@capetown.gov.za
• Internet: www.capetown.gov.za/collaborate
• Written submissions to the subcouncil offices across the City.

The study in a nutshell
The Constitution requires municipalities to provide certain services to the public. In Cape Town, the City is the designated water services provider who owns and operates the drinking water supply system within its jurisdiction.

Due to the complex nature of the Faure New Water Scheme, the study has determined that it may be more feasible to procure an external company to build, finance and operate the Faure NWS through a competitive process. The City would pay for the additional bulk water produced through an off-take agreement, provided that the water quality meets the required contractual standards.

Once built, the FNWS would be the property of the City, who always retains the legislative responsibility of ensuring water safety and compliance, prior to distribution to the public for consumption.

Through similar agreements, external companies are already used to support the City in providing other services such as: solid waste management, public transport provision and operation of wastewater services infrastructure, such as the Zandvliet works.

Some key points raised in the study are:

1. The Faure NWS aligns with the City of Cape Town’s Water Strategy. It will diversify and strengthen the resilience of the City’s bulk water supply.
2. The project has undergone robust design and risk assessments based on international standards.
3. Legal and regulatory approvals are in place, and the necessary land has been secured.
4. A thorough value assessment confirms the project is affordable.
5. A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) offers value for money, with opportunity for significant risk transfer to the private sector.
6. It is recommended that the Faure NWS be implemented as a Public-Private Partnership.
7. The PPP does not constitute privatisation, the City remains the water services provider and remains the owner of the infrastructure and is responsible for ensuring the water quality meets safe drinking water standards.
8. The City will use a competitive bidding process to ensure best value.

‘The proposed Faure New Water Scheme will supply an additional 70 to 100 million litres of water daily to Cape Town’s drinking water network, reducing reliance on rainfall-dependent dams. It forms part of the City’s broader strategy to diversify water sources from predominantly surface water, to also including sources from desalination, groundwater and reuse. Your valuable comments and input will be incorporated in the final version of the feasibility of the study for consideration by Council in December 2025,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.

Next public meeting
Residents are invited to attend the remaining public information meeting where the motivations, methodology and outcome of the feasibility study will be explained.

Date: Time: Venue: 6 August 2025 18:00 – 20:00 Strand Town Hall, Strand Municipal Office, Fagan Street, Strand

The meeting can be accessed online via www.capetown.gov.za/collaborate