Cape Town water security efforts will continue under a renewed partnership between the City and The Nature Conservancy, which will support the removal of invasive alien plants from major catchment areas until 2028/29, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The programme is expected to contribute around 20 billion litres of additional water each year to the Western Cape Water Supply System. Removing water-hungry invasive species allows more rainfall to reach rivers and dams, helping strengthen the region’s water resources.
The partnership has also supported more than 1 700 green job opportunities, with women making up 46% of positions and youth accounting for 23%.
The continued work forms part of the City’s New Water Programme, which aims to improve Cape Town’s water security as climate change increases pressure on water resources and rainfall patterns become more unpredictable.
Catchment restoration is one part of a broader effort to build a more resilient water system for the city and the Western Cape.
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‘Invasive alien plants are water-thirsty and will suck up the rainwater before it reaches the dams. The statistics emphasise the importance of the work being done by showing just how much water we’d be losing without it.’
‘This continued partnership is one of the directorate’s key components being implemented as part of our New Water Programme to bring 300 million litres of water online and secure Cape Town’s water future. In the face of unpredictable rainfall, every action counts because every drop counts. We all have a part to play to protect our precious water supply,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Alderman Zahid Badroodien.
By restoring natural catchments and limiting invasive vegetation, the programme aims to protect available water resources while creating employment opportunities.
The renewed partnership will extend this work through 2028/29 as Cape Town continues preparing for future water challenges. The partnership will support Cape Town’s long-term water planning.
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Also read:
Clearing alien invasive plants is a crucial step towards water security
Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook
