“The importance of data and information is the heartbeat in beating the drought.

“Understanding the magnitude of the drought, management of water resources, and the communication thereof was one of the jewels in the array of interventions. Never underestimate this aspect,” Bhagwan said.

Badroodien explained that due to climate change and population growth, Cape Town has learned that it cannot solely rely on dams for water security in the future, so the city is investing in its New Water Programme (NWP).

“The NWP is a strategic response to Cape Town’s increasing water needs and climate variability. By introducing multiple water sources, the programme aims to add 300 million litres per day to the city’s supply.”

According to Badroodien, key initiatives include:

Water reuse: The Faure New Water Scheme will be a state-of-the-art water reuse project that will produce up to 70 million litres of drinking water daily. The public participation in outsourcing the implementation and operation of the facility started in March 2025.
Desalination: The Paarden Eiland Desalination Plant, currently in the planning phase, will use multi-barrier treatment technology to remove pollutants and salts, ensuring the production of high-quality drinking water. The city launched a public participation process on January 31, 2025, on outsourcing the implementation and operation of the facility, with feedback submissions open until March 3.
Clearing of invasive plant species: The removal of invasive alien plant species is a cost-effective way to free up billions of litres of water in Cape Town’s key catchment areas. The removal of non-indigenous, water-guzzling plants is an important component of the city's Water Strategy and long-term NWP, which aims to add 55 billion litres per year to the water network.
Groundwater abstraction: Tapping into aquifers to secure over 100 million litres per day.