Where things stand — updated 30 October 2026
No new water restrictions have been announced for Cape Town yet. The City is considering precautionary restrictions from around 1 December 2026, after the national Department of Water and Sanitation warned that storage in the Western Cape Water Supply System is too low. Dam levels were at 73.8% in late October, and daily consumption has been running above the City’s 860-million-litre target. Final decisions depend on modelling still under way.
Check today’s Cape Town dam levels →We’ll update this page when the City makes an announcement.
If you own a pool in Cape Town, there are two things to understand: the rule that already applies to you today, and what restrictions have meant for pools in the past. Neither one needs panic. Both are good reasons to cover your pool before summer gets going.
The rule that already applies: covers are compulsory
Many pool owners don’t know this. Under the City of Cape Town’s Water By-law, some water rules apply permanently, whether or not there are restrictions. Two of them are about pools:
- All swimming pools must be covered by a pool cover to avoid evaporation when not in use.
- Automatic top-up systems using a float valve fed from municipal drinking water are not allowed for pools or garden ponds.
These rules came in with the 2018 by-law amendments after the drought, and the City has kept them in place ever since. Failing to comply can lead to a fine.
So covering your pool in Cape Town isn’t only a good idea. It’s already the rule.
What restrictions have meant for pools before
Cape Town uses tiered restriction levels, and the rules for pools get stricter as the level goes up. The last full cycle, from 2016 to 2019, gives the clearest guide to what pool owners can expect:
| Restriction level (2016–2019) | What it meant for pools |
|---|---|
| Level 3 | Manual top-ups with municipal water allowed only if the pool had a cover (in 2018/19, a non-permeable solid cover when not in use). No automatic top-ups. |
| Levels 5–6B (the Day Zero period) | No topping up, filling or refilling of pools with municipal water at all, even with a cover. All private pools had to be fitted with a cover. |
Future restrictions may be set differently. The City will publish the actual rules if and when it announces a level.
What this shows:
- At the lower restriction levels, having a cover is what lets you keep topping up. No cover can mean no top-ups.
- At the severe levels, a covered pool is the one that stays full. Once top-ups stop completely, the water already in your pool is all you’ll have until the rain comes. An uncovered pool can lose thousands of litres a month to evaporation (see the numbers for your pool size). A covered one keeps nearly all of it.
What to do now, before anything is announced
1. Check your cover. If you already have one, make sure it still covers the whole surface. Old, shrunken or torn covers leave open water, and open water evaporates. If it’s past its best, replace it before the summer rush.
2. If you don’t have a cover, get one fitted now. The by-law already requires it, and the time to sort it out is before restrictions land, not during them, when everyone else is trying to as well.
3. Disconnect any float-valve auto top-up fed from municipal water. It’s already not allowed, and it hides how much water your pool is really using.
4. Top up with rainwater or backwash water where you can. Past restriction rules encouraged it, and it’s a good habit regardless.
5. Do the bucket test. Make sure you’re losing water to evaporation and not a leak. A leak needs fixing whatever the restriction level. How to do the bucket test →
What kind of cover does the job?
For cutting evaporation, a full-coverage solar bubble cover performs about as well as a solid cover. In independent testing at Cal Poly, both cut evaporation by roughly 95% while on the pool. Solar covers also keep heat in, so a covered pool is warmer for longer.
A solar cover is not a safety cover, though, and won’t keep children out. If you need both water saving and child safety, speak to us about the right combination.
Compare our solar covers and get a price → · Pool covers in Cape Town →
Aqua-Net has been covering Western Cape pools for over 50 years, from our factory in Montague Gardens.
FAQ
Is it compulsory to have a pool cover in Cape Town?
Yes. Under the City of Cape Town’s Water By-law, all swimming pools must be covered by a pool cover to avoid evaporation when not in use. This applies permanently, even when there are no water restrictions.
Are there water restrictions in Cape Town right now?
As of 30 October 2026, no new restrictions have been announced. The City is considering precautionary restrictions from around 1 December 2026, depending on further modelling. Check the City of Cape Town’s website for the latest position.
Can I top up my pool during water restrictions?
It depends on the level. During Level 3 in 2016–2019, manual top-ups were allowed only if the pool was covered. At Levels 5 to 6B, topping up with municipal water was banned completely, even with a cover. Any new restrictions will have their own published rules.
Are automatic pool top-up systems allowed in Cape Town?
Not if they use a float valve fed from municipal drinking water. That’s banned under the permanent Water By-law rules.
Does a solar bubble cover count as a pool cover?
A full-coverage solar bubble cover covers the surface and reduces evaporation by about 95% in independent testing. Some past restriction notices specified a “non-permeable solid” cover. Check the exact wording of any new restrictions when they’re published.
Sources: City of Cape Town — Water use regulations permanently in place · City of Cape Town — Saving water / water regulations · Cape Town Etc — restrictions considered from December (23 Oct 2026) · Cape Argus — Level 3 pool cover rule (2019) · Western Cape Government — Level 6B guidelines (2018)