The City of Cape Town has successfully installed R10.9 million worth of inverters at sewer pump stations to boost its resilience against loadshedding and prevent sewer spills.
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The investment includes the installation of 37 modern, 12KW inverters at 27 crucial sewer pump stations across the city. The project started in July 2023 to reduce sewer overflows during loadshedding.
Each inverter contains at least one battery, providing up to four hours of backup power. In the long term, these can last for up to 20 years.
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Installation at indoor pump stations took approximately two to three days, compared to outdoor installations, which took up to two weeks. This is because non-standard enclosures had to be custom manufactured and fitted for the outdoor venues.
The benefits of these pump station inverters include:
- Uninterrupted operations: The inverters will keep pump stations operational during power outages, ensuring a continuous and dependable sewage management system
- Improved monitoring and control: The inverters are equipped with advanced technology to monitor the power status at pump stations, allowing for real-time responses
‘The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate remains committed to providing reliable, resilient and long-term services,’ says Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayco member for water and sanitation.
‘This project demonstrates our proactive approach to infrastructure maintenance to safeguard against potential disruptions in sanitation services. The procurement processes are being followed to have more inverters installed at other pump stations.’
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Also read:
City of Cape Town implements measures to combat ‘loadshedding-related vandalism’
Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook
