The City identifies potential beneficiaries by monitoring unexplained high water usage in indigent households—those receiving 15,000 liters (15kl) of free water per month. If their consumption exceeds this threshold, their water supply may be restricted. To mitigate this, Cape Town offers a once-off leak repair benefit to qualifying households, focusing on properties consuming over 50,000 liters (50kl) per month.
Upon identifying excessive usage, the City engages with affected residents to inspect their properties and determine the source of the leaks. Repairs—including fixing leaking pipes, taps, toilets, and fittings, as well as meter replacements—are conducted at no cost to the property owner.
Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.
“Through this initiative, water losses are reduced, and it demonstrates the importance of residents maintaining plumbing on private properties to avoid unnecessary costs. The growing uptake of the program is encouraging and shows how aware indigent customers have become about water-wise behaviors."
For the 2024/2025 financial year, Cape Town allocated R3.8 million ($205,871.68) towards the Indigent Leak Repair Project, reflecting the City’s commitment to social relief and sustainable water management.
The project has been especially impactful in some of Cape Town’s highest-need communities, with repairs recently conducted in:
Cape Town’s initiative aligns with global trends in municipal water conservation programs, particularly in cities facing water stress. Similar initiatives can be found in places like São Paulo, Brazil, and Los Angeles, USA, where authorities provide free or subsidized plumbing repairs for low-income residents to curb excessive water loss.
The success of Cape Town’s program comes at a critical time, as climate change continues to exacerbate water scarcity in South Africa. The city, which faced a severe Day Zero crisis in 2018, remains a global example of how urban centers can implement proactive water-saving strategies.
Regardless of dam levels or seasonal rainfall, city officials emphasize that water conservation must remain a permanent priority. “We must all continue to save water and use our resources responsibly,” added Councillor Badroodien.
