The City of Cape Town is procuring a private-sector partner to develop the Faure New Water Scheme, a project that will add purified recycled water to the city's drinking-water supply. This initiative is part of the City's New Water Programme, which aims to diversify Cape Town's water supply by developing additional sources less dependent on rainfall. The programme targets adding 300 million litres of drinking water per day from new sources by the mid-2030s.
The Faure New Water Scheme will use advanced treatment technology to purify treated wastewater from the upgraded Zandvliet Wastewater Treatment Works. The purified water will then be blended with dam water and treated again at the Faure Water Treatment Plant before entering the city's potable-water network. According to the City's feasibility study, the maximum blend ratio is 33% purified recycled water, with the remainder being surface water.
The process begins with treated wastewater from the Zandvliet Wastewater Treatment Works being sent to a multi-barrier advanced water purification plant at the Faure Water Treatment Plant. The purified water will subsequently be blended with surface water from dams before augmenting the flow through the existing Faure Water Treatment Plant. This approach ensures that the purified recycled water does not bypass the City's existing treatment system.
The City's decision to reuse wastewater is driven by the need for a reliable water supply from diverse sources. Cape Town can no longer rely solely on rainfall collected in dams. The Faure New Water Scheme aims to diversify the city's water sources and expand its water supply capacity. The scheme is designed to produce 100 million litres of purified recycled water per day, with an initial capacity of 70 million litres per day.
The timing of any increase from the initial 70 million litres per day will depend on factors including water demand and the availability of treated wastewater. The City announced on September 25, 2026, that it had begun the procurement process for the financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Faure New Water Scheme. The procurement process will start with a Request for Qualifications.
Qualifying participants will be invited to the Request for Proposals stage, scheduled for the second half of 2027. The project is being pursued through a public-private partnership, with the City stating that the private-sector partner will finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain the scheme in partnership with the City. This partnership aims to provide a new, reliable source of drinking water while helping Cape Town diversify its water supply.
The Faure New Water Scheme is intended to strengthen Cape Town's resilience as the city grows. The City's Water Strategy recognises the need for sufficient, reliable water from diverse sources. With the introduction of purified recycled water into the drinking supply, Cape Town is taking a significant step towards ensuring a sustainable and reliable water future. The scheme will also help reduce the city's reliance on rainfall collected in dams.
Key points
- The City of Cape Town aims to add 300 million litres of drinking water per day from new sources by the mid-2030s.
- The Faure New Water Scheme will produce 100 million litres of purified recycled water per day, with an initial capacity of 70 million litres per day.
- The purified recycled water will be blended with dam water and treated again at the Faure Water Treatment Plant before entering the city's potable-water network.
