Cape Town has long held the ambitious goal of becoming a water sensitive city, and as the City of Cape Town rolls out its draft budget, things appear to be going according to plan as it aims to invest more than R300 million for remediation of three vleis over the next three years. R57 will also be allocated to assist with improving infrastructure-related water quality in various vleis across the Mother City, according to a statement.
Improving water quality in the waterbodies and recreational vleis will be the main objective. Here are a few of the capital projects over the next three years.
- Bayside Canal upgrade:
The capacity of the Bayside canal will be increased through the construction of stormwater treatment ponds. This will reportedly help reduce stormwater pollution that enters Rietvlei and Table Bay Nature Reserve.
- Zandvlei Canal upgrade
Various upgrades will be conducted to existing caisson walls that protect Zandveli, including stopping the mouth of the canal from collapsing at the crossing with Royal Road. This upgrade will also ensure that the upstream embankment and the proposed redesign of the rubble weir are protected. This controls the water level within the water body, water quality and fish-breeding nursery.
- Zeekoevlei
Zeekoevlei’s weir will be lowered to enable greater flushing and a fish ladder will be included to improve biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Along with a range of other upgrades, the City also plans to include weed harvesters that will be provided for Zandvlei and Rietvlei. This will assist in the management of aquatic plants.
“In the case of aquatic vegetation that responds to eutrophication of our urban systems through excessive growth, the weed harvester assists with the removal of these aquatic plants by harvesting them and the nutrients that they absorb,” said the City.
“The City is serious about tackling pollution and improving the water quality in our waterways and vleis. This investment outlined in the draft budget is testament to this commitment,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
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