A total of 1 688 registered indigent households in Cape Town have benefitted from the city’s indigent leak repair project since 2021.
Through the project, the city’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has assisted in repairing private water leaks at residents’ properties, which helps to prevent unnecessary water losses and ensure that vulnerable residents can manage their water consumption more effectively.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, explained that households are identified based on unexplained high-water usage.
“Once the city engages with the affected resident and inspects the property to find the source of the water leak, repairs are conducted at no cost to the property owner.
“Indigent customers receive a free water allocation of 15 000 litres (15kl) per month. Consumption above this threshold may result in water supply restrictions, making leak repairs critical for sustainable water use,” Badroodien said.
To support these residents, Badroodien said the city offers a once-off leak repair benefit to qualifying households.
The MMC noted that beneficiaries are determined by analysing trends, where registered indigent properties are found to be consuming water above 50 000 litres (50Kl) per month.
“Households who opted in for the programme will be assisted with repairs to leaking internal pipes, taps, toilets, fittings and meter replacements, as determined by individual needs,” Badroodien said.
Through this initiative, water losses are reduced, and it demonstrates the importance of residents maintaining plumbing on private properties to avoid unnecessary costs.
Badroodien said the city has invested R3.8 million towards the leak repair programme for the 2024/2025 financial year.
He said the growing uptake of the programme is encouraging and shows how aware indigent customers have become about water-wise behaviours.
The top 10 areas where the city has recently conducted leak repairs, includes Nyanga, Philippi, Gugulethu, Delft, Leiden, Bloekombos, Wallacedene, Tafelsig, Vrygrond and Bonteheuwel.
The city reiterated its call for residents to continue saving water and use the city’s resources responsible “regardless of the season or our dam levels.”
Helpful guides on ‘Finding and Fixing Leaks’ are available at http://www.capetown.gov.za/savewater - SAnews.gov.za
