Cape Town, South Africa, reduced its water use by 40% following severe drought in the 2015-2017 period. The city has developed a comprehensive water management strategy and some of the changes that were put in place during the drought (including pricing to promote responsible use and greywater reuse systems) will remain in place. The City of Cape Town is working to facilitate safe access to basic water and sanitation for all residents, to promote the wise use of water by all water users through pricing, regulations and public education campaigns, to ensure there is sufficient water that is reliably available from diverse sources, to ensure maximised economic, and social and environmental benefits that come from shared water resources.

The end goal is to actively facilitate Cape Town's transition into a city which is sensitive to our water resources, and which makes optimal use of stormwater pipes and urban waterways for flood control, aquifer recharge and recreation.