The Faure New Water Scheme is a bold new project in Cape Town that turns treated wastewater into clean, safe drinking water using advanced technology. It will add up to 70 million litres of recycled water every day, helping the city fight water shortages and protect the environment. The city invites everyone to join the conversation, making sure the community’s voice shapes this important plan. Together, Cape Town is finding smart, creative ways to secure its water future for all.
What is the Faure New Water Scheme and how will it impact Cape Town’s water supply?
The Faure New Water Scheme is a project to produce up to 70 million litres of purified recycled water daily by treating wastewater from Zandvliet. It aims to boost Cape Town’s water supply, enhance sustainability, and involve the community through public-private partnerships and advanced purification technology.
The Next Chapter in Cape Town’s Water Story
As winter winds down in Cape Town and the city’s dams shimmer beneath a patchwork sky, a quiet transformation is underway. The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate, often working behind the scenes, steps into the public eye with a call to action for all Capetonians. At the heart of this engagement is the Faure New Water Scheme (FNWS), a significant piece of the expansive New Water Programme. After years of research, technical studies, and planning, the city now invites residents to examine and respond to the scheme’s detailed feasibility study – a pivotal moment that could reshape Cape Town’s approach to water management.
Cape Town’s relationship with water mirrors global patterns of adaptation and ingenuity. Civilizations have long devised ways to secure clean, reliable water – whether through Roman aqueducts or Persian qanats. The city’s recent history, marked by the threat of Day Zero, underscores the urgency of sustainable solutions. The FNWS emerges as both a practical response to these pressures and a broader symbol of how cities can rise to environmental challenges with creativity and collaboration.
The Faure New Water Scheme proposes a forward-thinking solution: harnessing treated wastewater from the newly upgraded Zandvliet Wastewater Treatment Works to produce purified recycled water. The plan aims to deliver up to 70 million litres of potable water per day, forming a cornerstone of the New Water Programme’s broader goal – to boost Cape Town’s water supply by 300 million litres daily by 2030. This initiative combines technological ambition with a commitment to public accountability and environmental stewardship.
Technology at the Forefront, Partnerships in Practice
Visitors to Zandvliet can sense the blend of innovation and tradition that defines the FNWS. Advanced purification technologies – microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet disinfection – work in tandem, ensuring that treated effluent becomes safe, high-quality drinking water. Each stage of the process reflects international best practices and scientific rigor, transforming what was once waste into a vital resource for the community.
The project’s structure also signals a new era in municipal governance. The comprehensive feasibility study, shaped by multi-disciplinary analysis, concludes that a public-private partnership offers the most viable path forward. Under this model, a private company would finance, build, and operate the facility, while the city retains oversight of water quality and system safety. This approach harnesses private sector efficiency while safeguarding the public good – mirroring successful initiatives in cities like Singapore and Windhoek, where treated wastewater now plays a central role in urban water supply.
Procurement and management processes reflect a careful balance of efficiency and accountability. By inviting competitive bids and establishing clear contractual benchmarks, the city ensures that cost, quality, and long-term sustainability remain front and center. When the scheme reaches full operation, ownership and control will return entirely to the municipality, reinforcing the principle that water remains a public trust.
Engaging the Public: Shaping the Scheme Together
At the core of the Faure New Water Scheme’s development lies a strong commitment to community involvement. The city recognizes that technological advances are only part of the solution; genuine progress depends on public buy-in and active participation. Residents now have a unique opportunity to review the feasibility study and share their insights, concerns, or support. This open consultation period marks a critical step in aligning the project with the values and expectations of Capetonians.
The city has scheduled an additional public engagement session on August 20th, to be held online for maximum accessibility. This event, along with multiple channels for written and digital feedback, reflects a belief in participatory governance. Every comment, question, or recommendation will help refine the final version of the feasibility study, ensuring that the project reflects a broad cross-section of community voices.
This approach draws on South Africa’s constitutional principles, which emphasize the right to basic services and the importance of inclusive municipal decision-making. Councillor Zahid Badroodien highlights the need for community input, noting that the final plan must not only meet technical and economic criteria but also earn the confidence of the people it serves. By turning public consultation into an integral part of the process, the city builds transparency, trust, and a foundation for long-term success.
Lessons from the Past, Inspiration for the Future
Cape Town’s ongoing pursuit of water security combines lessons from past crises with inspiration from global pioneers. The 2017 drought, which thrust the city into the international spotlight, prompted widespread changes in water use, policy, and public consciousness. The FNWS draws on this legacy, incorporating lessons from cities like Singapore – where NEWater has become a trusted part of the water supply – and Windhoek, which set the precedent for potable reuse decades ago.
Community perceptions play a crucial role in the project’s success. While some residents initially express hesitation about recycled water, educational outreach and facility tours often turn skepticism into support. Rigorous testing and robust safety measures help reassure the public, demonstrating that advanced treatment can consistently produce water that meets the highest standards.
This evolving dialogue – between experts, officials, and everyday citizens – infuses the FNWS with both challenge and potential. Public forums and comment periods become spaces for honest debate, problem-solving, and shared ownership of the city’s water future. As the process unfolds, Cape Town’s experience contributes to a broader global conversation about how diverse communities can adapt to environmental realities without sacrificing public health, dignity, or trust.
Art, Environment, and the Promise of Renewal
The Faure New Water Scheme resonates beyond engineering and politics, connecting with deeper themes explored in local art and storytelling. Cape Town’s murals, poetry, and photography often reflect the dual role of water as both nurturer and threat – a force that shapes lives, landscapes, and culture. The scheme’s ability to turn waste into a resource echoes cycles of renewal found in African traditions, where regeneration and resilience form the backbone of community identity.
Engineers and artists alike see their work as acts of creation and confidence-building. Whether designing cutting-edge infrastructure or capturing the city’s relationship with water in paint and prose, these efforts remind residents that sustainability is both a technical challenge and a cultural endeavor. The FNWS, in this sense, becomes part of a living narrative – one that links environmental responsibility with social cohesion and creativity.
Moving Forward: A Collective Effort
As the window for public input draws to a close, Cape Town stands at a moment of possibility. The multiple avenues for feedback – email, online forms, and neighborhood offices – testify to a city determined to make every voice count. Each submission will inform the city’s final decisions, reinforcing the idea that the FNWS belongs to everyone it will serve.
The journey from feasibility study to completed project involves more than engineering expertise or financial resources. It calls for empathy, vision, and a willingness to learn from both success and setback. By embracing transparency, fostering meaningful dialogue, and drawing on the city’s diverse talents, Cape Town demonstrates what is possible when a community comes together in pursuit of a common goal.
In the end, the Faure New Water Scheme stands as a testament to the enduring value of collective action. It reminds us that safeguarding water – and the future itself – depends not only on pipes and pumps, but on the power of imagination, trust, and shared responsibility. As the project moves forward, every Capetonian has a role to play in writing the next chapter of the city’s water story.
What is the Faure New Water Scheme and why is it important for Cape Town?
The Faure New Water Scheme (FNWS) is an innovative project that transforms treated wastewater from the Zandvliet Wastewater Treatment Works into clean, safe drinking water using advanced purification technologies. It will produce up to 70 million litres of recycled water daily, significantly boosting Cape Town’s water supply and helping to combat water shortages. This project is vital to securing the city’s water future sustainably while reducing environmental impact.
How does the Faure New Water Scheme purify wastewater to make it safe for drinking?
The scheme employs a multi-stage purification process that includes microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. These steps ensure the removal of contaminants, pathogens, and impurities, producing water that meets or exceeds international drinking water standards. Rigorous testing and monitoring guarantee the safety and high quality of the recycled water supplied to the community.
What role does the community play in the development of the Faure New Water Scheme?
Community involvement is central to the FNWS. Cape Town invites residents to review the detailed feasibility study and participate in public consultations, including online engagement sessions and feedback channels. This open dialogue ensures the project reflects the values and concerns of Capetonians and builds trust and transparency. Public input shapes the final design and operation of the scheme, reinforcing the principle that water is a public trust.
How will the Faure New Water Scheme be managed and operated?
The project follows a public-private partnership model. A private company will finance, construct, and operate the facility, leveraging efficiency and expertise. Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town retains oversight of water quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. Once fully operational, ownership and control will return to the municipality, ensuring that the water supply remains a public resource.
What lessons from global and local experiences influence the Faure New Water Scheme?
The FNWS builds on Cape Town’s experience with the 2017 drought and learns from international leaders in water reuse such as Singapore and Windhoek. These cities have successfully integrated treated wastewater into their potable water supplies with strong safety records and public acceptance. Educational outreach and transparency help overcome skepticism, demonstrating that recycled water is a safe and reliable resource.
How does the Faure New Water Scheme contribute to environmental sustainability and Cape Town’s cultural identity?
By recycling wastewater, the scheme reduces reliance on traditional dam water sources, lowering environmental strain and increasing resilience to drought. It also embodies themes of renewal and regeneration important to Cape Town’s cultural and artistic communities. The project connects technical innovation with social cohesion, illustrating how sustainable water management can inspire creativity and shared responsibility within the city.
