Blood & Water was Netflix's second South African original production, following Queen Sono, and was developed by Gambit Films as a teen crime drama directed by Nosipho Dumisa and written by Daryne Joshua and Travis Taute.

Lead actress Ama Qamata was connected with the show's casting director through her prior work on the series Gomora.

Several actors joined the ensemble as the show progressed, including Leroy Panashe Siyafa, Katishcka Chanderlal, and Alzavia Abrahams in season 2, while Greteli Fincham was promoted to a more central role that season.

Principal photography for the first season took place on location in and around Cape Town starting in June 2019, using parts of the University of Cape Town, such as Smuts Hall and Sarah Baartman Hall, to stand in for the fictional Parkhurst College.

Additional season 1 filming locations included Cape Town City Hall, the Bay Hotel in Camps Bay, Sea Point promenade, the Atlantic Seaboard, Durbanville, and Llandudno, while the swimming pool scenes were shot at Generations School in Somerset West.

Season 2 filming ran from 1 November 2020 to 3 March 2021 in Cape Town, and season 4 filming took place from 12 November 2023 to 16 January 2024.

The show's first season earned an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on five reviews, with an average score of 6.5 out of 10, and drew public attention from celebrities such as Gabrielle Union and Lil Nas X.

Blood & Water won Best TV Drama at the 2021 South African Film and Television Awards, along with additional awards for cinematography and sound design.