Water Certificate of Compliance in Cape Town

It is specified in the City of Cape Town’s Water by-law 2010 section 14(1) that a Water Certificate of Compliance needs to be issued before property can be transferred. The certificate was introduced to make sure that the quality of plumbing installations was up to standard, as well as to protect property buyers from high water bills and latent defects.

The Certificate of Compliance of Water Installation certifies that:

• The water meter is functioning.
• There are no storm-water connections running into the sewer system.
• The water installation complies with the national building regulations and local by-laws.
• There are no cross-connections between grey water and drinking water, recycled water and ground-water systems.

How to prepare for a Water Certificate of Compliance

1. A hot water cylinder legally needs to be accessible at all times for survey and maintenance during the water inspection as it is one of the most important aspects of the overall inspection.
2. If you are planning on enclosing the geyser, it is suggested that you do so only after the inspection and all compliance work has been completed.
3. Ensure that no terminal fittings (e.g. taps) are leaking and that they secured in position correctly.
4. The water inspection and compliance do not cover general plumbing maintenance – they specifically relate to water wastage.