The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in conjunction with the City of Cape Town Municipality wishes to update citizens about the water provisioning interventions across the City of Cape Town (CCT).

The distribution of water through water trucks is a short term relief measure to combat the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, with a focus on hotspot areas that have limited access to basic potable water supply. The installation of water tanks therefore prioritizes the densely populated informal areas.

Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa - Director Planning and Information/Water Sector Support from DWS Western Cape - reported that approximately 250 water tanks have been installed across the CCT with the majority of the installations in the Monwabisi Park area of Khayelitsha. The water tanks are refilled daily and to date this joint programme has seen 37 000 kiloliters of water delivered across the city.

Bila-Mupariwa further stated that while the majority of communities are 

grateful for the interventions, at times there are unfortunate disturbing incidents when some communities prevent water trucks from refilling the water tanks as well as criminal activities when employees are robbed of their belongings.

“As we wage the battle against COVID-19, we encourage all role-players to  contribute in curbing vandalism and life threatening incidents to staff when  distributing water,” says Bila-Mupariwa

Safety measures are being put in place to ensure that good quality drinking water is delivered to citizens. Trucks are sanitized before they are filled, in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards

DWS and CCT are also in the process of finalising logistics to distribute Health and hygiene material/sanitary packages, which include hand sanitizers, detergents, bar soaps, gloves, face masks and disposable suits.

The health and hygiene materials are intended for distribution to the most vulnerable communities to ensure that their homes are disinfected/sanitized at all times to  minimize the risks of further transmission of the disease.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste Alderman Xanthea Limberg said: "The City welcomes this contribution by DWS towards enhancing access to water among our vulnerable residents. The City is committed to ensuring these are replenished and serviced to the SANS 241 standards we maintain in all City-owned tanks."

Furthermore, all Western Cape water users are reminded that the Province has survived the worst drought in memory in the 2017-18 period. Citizens are urged to conserve water whilst embarking on good hygiene practices.

“Water is Life, Sanitation is Dignity”

Issued by the Department of Water & Sanitation in Western Cape