6 February 2026
The Municipality notes with concern a factually inaccurate article published by the online platform, The Cape Independent, alleging that the Municipality is facing an imminent water crisis and will soon run out of water. These claims are incorrect and have created unnecessary alarm and confusion among residents.
It is regrettable that the author failed to approach the Municipality for comment prior to publication, as is standard journalistic practice – particularly on a matter as sensitive as water security.
The Municipality wishes to assure residents that there is no Day Zero scenario at present and no water restrictions are currently in place. As communicated on the 29th of January we assess and re-evaluate the water levels on a daily basis to ensure we start with water restrictions timeously ensuring a sufficient water supply, if the need arises.
The Municipality receives the bulk of its water from the Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS), which comprises six major dams scattered across the region – Theewaterskloof, Berg River, Steenbras (Upper and Lower), Wemmershoek and Voëlvlei. This system also supplies the City of Cape Town and neighbouring municipalities, including Drakenstein and Theewaterskloof.
As is typical during a dry, hot summer season, increased consumption and evaporation have placed pressure on reservoir levels. These levels are monitored daily by the Municipality’s Water Department. In addition, recent extensive fires across the Cape Winelands, Overberg and Stellenbosch Municipal areas required the use of untreated water from the Ida’s Valley Dams for firefighting purposes, which had a impact on dam levels. This does not however translate into a looming crisis.
The Municipality continues to produce sufficient potable water through the Paradyskloof Water Treatment Works, which is fed from the Theewaterskloof Dam. Supply has further been optimised through operational adjustments, including increased pumping to key reservoirs, activation of additional infrastructure, urgent leak repairs and the re-commissioning of boreholes previously used during the 2018 drought to supplement supply.
Claims of sabotage of municipal water infrastructure are taken very seriously and an investigation into these allegations has already commenced. At the same time, a number of interventions are already underway to ensure uninterrupted supply and to further augment water resources.
The Municipality remains in constant engagement with the City of Cape Town, the Provincial Government and the National Department of Water and Sanitation to assess prospects and determine any measures that may be required in future, should conditions change. Any decision regarding possible water restrictions will be communicated timeously and through official channels only.
Residents are encouraged to continue using water responsibly and to reduce consumption where possible. Making every drop count is a collective responsibility but this call for water-wise behaviour should not be confused with a full-blown water crisis.
The Municipality thanks the community for its cooperation and will continue to provide daily updates.
Issued by:
Communications Department
Stellenbosch Municipality
