Data · tariffs
Municipal water tariffs 2026/27: what each kilolitre costs
South African metros charge water in rising blocks: the more you use in a month, the more each kilolitre costs. We put the 2026/27 domestic tariffs of the four largest metros side by side.
By Borehole Payback · updated 24 October 2026
Will a borehole pay for itself?
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Garden water from each metro's average 2021–2025 weather; 2026/27 water and sewage tariffs incl. VAT; pump electricity at R3.50 per kWh. Drilling at R1 000 per metre incl. casing.
What our numbers show
Our calculations, data as of 24 October 2026
- In every metro the price per kl rises steeply with use. In Cape Town the 10th kl costs R52 with sewage and the 45th R162.
- Cape Town and eThekwini are the most expensive at the top: the 45th kl costs R162 and R161, water and sewage together, against R108 in Johannesburg.
- Tshwane and Johannesburg give the first 9 and 6 kl free to every household; Cape Town and eThekwini charge from the first kl for most homes.
- Because the top blocks are the dearest, the first 10 kl that a borehole replaces save the most. A borehole that covers only part of the garden can still pay well.
The price of the last kilolitre
What one more kilolitre adds to the monthly bill at different levels of use, water and use-based sewage together, incl. VAT:
| Metro | 10th kl | 20th kl | 30th kl | 45th kl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town | R52 | R84 | R84 | R162 |
| Johannesburg | R39 | R56 | R78 | R108 |
| Tshwane (Pretoria) | R66 | R72 | R70 | R69 |
| eThekwini (Durban) | R73 | R73 | R104 | R161 |
Cape Town and eThekwini: domestic tariffs for properties above the free-water thresholds. Johannesburg: conventional meter; sewage is a fixed charge by erf size. Tshwane: sewage on the share of water deemed discharged.
How each metro charges
- Cape Town charges water in four steps and sewage on 70 % of water use, up to 35 kl of sewage a month.
- Johannesburg gives 6 kl free, then charges seven steps; sewage for houses is a fixed monthly amount by erf size, plus a water demand management levy.
- Tshwane gives 9 kl free and charges sewage on a falling share of each water block, from 90 % down to 1 %.
- eThekwini charges water and sewage in five steps; homes valued at R350 000 or less get the first 6 kl free.
Metro of the week: eThekwini (Durban)
A household in eThekwini (Durban) using 30 kl of municipal water a month pays about R2 253 a month for water and sewage under the 2026/27 tariffs. A 60 m borehole watering a 250 m² garden would save about R4 769 a year after pump electricity and upkeep, and pay back in 19.8 years.