Cape Town water inspectors hit the streets to enforce water by-laws. Throughout the summer season, the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s Water Inspectorate has increased their checks across Cape Town to regulate and enforce the City of Cape Town’s Water By-law and deter excessive water use.
Faced with below-average rainfall and increasing water demand, the Water Inspectorate ramped up their efforts to ensure residents and businesses, that are adhering to the Water By-law of 2010 and the 2018 by-law amendment.
During December 2025 and January 2026, water inspectors visited Sandown, Parklands, Bergvliet, Brackenfell South, Somerset West, Tokai, Monte Vista, Heathfield, Gordons Bay, Ottery, Groot Phesantekraal View and Brackenfell South.
The aim of these inspections is to check for:
- Water wastage, both private and municipal.
- Leaks on City infrastructure as well as on private properties.
- Illegal water connections.
- Water By-law Schedule- 1 permanent restrictions, which include the restrictions on dampening building sand or other building material and hosing down hard surfaces or paved areas with potable water.
- Keeping swimming pools covered to avoid evaporation when not in use.
- Awareness of the current dam levels and water-wise initiatives by distributing pamphlets at houses and shopping malls.
- Contraventions to issue notices and fines where applicable.
Transgressors can be issued a spot fine ranging from R1500 to R5000, each time they are found violating the by-law. In the upcoming weeks, these inspections will take place in Uitzicht (Durbanville), Westlake Business Park, Parow Industrial, Somerset West, Plumstead, Goodwood, Belgravia, Meadowridge, Constantia, Table View, and shopping centres in Somerset West, Sea Point, Table View, Cape Gate and Kenilworth.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien said that checking properties for compliance with the City’s Water By-laws is one of several measures aimed at reducing water wastage. These efforts are supported by ongoing programmes such as leak detection across the water supply network, annual pipe replacement and pressure management.
Badroodien said that prior to the visits, residents will receive a knock-and-drop letter informing them of the inspection taking place in their area. Teams will check the GIS mapping system to determine which properties have a swimming pool and those residents will be visited to ensure that their swimming pool has an appropriate cover.
City officials will be wearing City attire (hat and CCT branded t-shirt) and will carry their official City of Cape Town identity tag with them. Residents are welcome to verify this by contacting the City’s call centre.
He said that they are gearing in this together. They have done it before and he is confident that they can do it again. Let’s work together to reduce non-essential outdoor water use and remain below the 975 million litres per-day usage target. He thanked all residents who are already complying.