The City of Cape Town last week started drilling to abstract groundwater from the Cape Flats aquifer as part of its ongoing efforts to mitigate the drought.

Speaking at a site visit in Mitchells Plain last week, Executive Mayor Patricia de Lille said a company contracted by the City started to drill for water at the Mitchells Plain water works after the site was chosen based on the hydrogeological information and the likelihood of it delivering a safe yield of water from the aquifer.

Aquifers to add at least 150 million litres of water per day

According to the mayor a recent groundwater survey has confirmed that aquifers around Cape Town could deliver at least 150 million litres of water per day.

“The Cape Flats aquifer will deliver 80 million litres per day, the Table Mountain Group aquifer will deliver 40 million litres per day, and the Atlantis aquifer will deliver 30 million litres per day,” she explained.

“Prime locations have been identified to abstract more water from these three aquifers. Drill rigs are moving on site this week,” De Lille added.

An exploration and monitoring borehole

The Mitchells Plain project is an exploration and monitoring borehole that will provide data about the conditions in the area and according to the mayor all exploration boreholes are designed to potentially become production boreholes in the future.

The City will drill in Strandfontein, Philippi, Wesbank, Bishop Lavis and Kayelitsha to look for the best abstraction points to tap water from the Cape Flats aquifer.

Securing future supply

“The City’s programme is based on an environmentally sensitive approach that will ensure sustainable water abstraction, ensuring generations of Capetonians will benefit from this groundwater,” the mayor said.

“It is important that all residents must continue to save water, despite the City’s work to secure new water sources. The City of Cape Town is working around the clock to bring new water supplies online but we need the buy in from all residents,” she added.