Collecting Fresh Spring Water
Newlands Freshwater Spring
Main St. (previously Springs Way), Newlands Cape Town 7700 South Africa (next to Newlands Municipal swimming pool)
Open daily between 5am-9pm (Weekdays are the least busy)
Stone drain with PVC pipe ~15cm diameter to help fill your bottles. Water normally runs directly into the local river.
A person is allowed a maximum 25 litres at a time.
Flow: Continuous
TDS: 95
Temp: 5° – 15° C
pH: 5.9
Sources:
https://www.capetowngreenmap.co.za/cape-town-green-map-online-map/nature/natural-corridor-green-belt/newlands-freshwater-spring
https://www.capetown.travel/a-guide-to-cape-towns-natural-springs/
Mountain Springs Info
Interesting read:
https://waterstories.co.za/cape-town-water-sources/
Quote from the page:
“Once we have living water back in our city, we have a living city.” Caron von Zeil, Reclaim Camissa
“Table Mountain is unique in that it is a mountain catchment feeding a huge aquifer that extends all the way to the Boland mountains beneath the Steenbras Dam. It is the only strategic water source area entirely covered by urban settlement. In addition to rainfall, its famous table-cloth of cloud condenses onto fynbos vegetation, providing a constant source of water feeding more than 30 springs. The topographical features of the Table Mountain are such that springs naturally occur in such abundance they were able to supply all of Cape Town’s water needs until the 1880s.
According to archival records there are thirty-six artesian springs around Table Mountain. Thirty-two have been located, of which only 13 are listed by the municipality. Studies and monitoring of these has been patchy and in some instances controversial due to competing interests. Prior to the World Cup in 2010, Table Mountain’s springs were largely forgotten, and in 1994 had been struck off the City’s asset register. The Albion Spring was until recently the only one connected to the bulk water supply system.
Some springs are available for the public to collect from, a few feed into the municipal system, some are used for irrigation, and since the 1690s, used in the production of beer. However, a significant amount of spring water flows wasted into the stormwater system. As the city faced the possibility of Day Zero, with increases in water prices and water restrictions, this resource again rose to the attention of city water management and the public.
Caron von Zeil is the founder of Reclaim Camissa and has spent years researching Table Mountain’s springs and telling powerful stories of their significance. Her vision is that
“…one day, the people of Cape Town will gather around our common heritage of CAMISSA — the very waters that defined the location of the city, reflecting the public past and embracing a new civic infrastructure, inspired by a deliberate recognition and respect for the social, cultural and ecological significance of this Water. Linking the past with the present, to develop a different model for our future, by connecting people to this vital resource, we celebrate the Water that links mountain to sea, past to future, and people to the Environment.” Reclaim Camissa Trust, 2010