Cape Town desalination plans delayed while water demand soars
Latest Water Outlook reveals City’s plan for 300-million extra litres a day has slipped to 2036
The City of Cape Town's plans to build a desalination plant at Paarden Eiland have been delayed as Transnet intends to expand the port. The search for alternative locations for the permanent desalination plant has been initiated, which will push the project back five years. The city's New Water Programme, aimed at adding 300-million litres of water per day, includes using groundwater, reusing wastewater, and pumping water from the Berg River into Voëlvlei Dam.
However, the Berg River–Voëlvlei scheme has suffered setbacks, with completion now expected in 2030 instead of 2027. Cape Town's increasing water usage means its maximum allocation from Western Cape dams will be reached within two years, and the New Water Programme is only expected to be operating by 2036 at best.
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