The City of Cape Town has broken ground on the next phase of the R470 million Milnerton bulk sewer upgrade, with the construction of an entirely new pipeline scheduled for completion by 2025.
This endeavour involves the implementation of innovative micro-tunnelling technology to establish a novel bulk sewer in Montague Gardens. Additionally, the City will extend and integrate the Edgemead and Century City bulk sewers into this new infrastructure.
Also read: CoCT to complete SA’s largest sewer upgrade by 2025
Upon the completion of nearly 4 kilometres of new bulk sewerage by early 2025, the City will redirect sewage flow through this fresh conduit while simultaneously rehabilitating the existing bulk sewer beneath Montague Drive, Montague Gardens.
Since the existing pipeline runs beneath the busy Montague Drive roadway, the pipeline restoration process will rely on trenchless technology. A mechanised crawler will initially assess the condition of the pipes to determine the most effective repair method, and all repair work will take place underground, minimising surface-level disruptions for residents and traffic.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis expressed his enthusiasm about breaking ground on yet another significant improvement project during his tenure:
‘It was a joy to break ground on yet another major upgrade project of this administration. The existing bulk sewer under Montague Drive is operating at full capacity, with an upgrade needed to accommodate future growth in this part of the city. That is why we are constructing an entirely new bulk sewer, which will operate alongside the rehabilitated existing pipeline.
Scheduled for completion in 2025, the same year as the culmination of the expansive Cape Flats Bulk Sewer Rehabilitation – the largest of its kind in South Africa – this endeavour is designed to future-proof the city. By doing so, Cape Town is positioning itself to become an even more desirable place to reside as its metropolitan area continues to develop.
Mayor Hill-Lewis stated, ‘When we talk of our long-term vision of building a city of hope for all, it really comes down to projects like this, which bring about better living conditions for residents,’ said Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
Over the following three years, the City will allocate a substantial R1.4 billion towards significant bulk sewer upgrades for the Cape Flats, Philippi, Milnerton and Gordon’s Bay lines. In a testament to its commitment to infrastructure development, Cape Town has escalated its investment in water and sanitation infrastructure by an impressive 223% over three years, with funding increasing from R2.3 billion in 2022/23 to R7.8 billion in 2025/26.
Beyond the bulk sewer upgrades, other notable achievements include a capital expenditure of R8.6 billion for Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) upgrades over three years, R1.3 billion allocated for sewer spill responsiveness, encompassing proactive jet-cleaning of 200 kilometres of sewer lines annually, and a quadrupling of pipe replacement efforts from 25 kilometres in 2021/22 to an impressive 100 kilometres annually, constituting a total investment of R850 million over three years.
Mayor Hill-Lewis underlined the broader impact of this infrastructure surge, emphasising, ‘Aside from improving basic services and personal and community dignity, the scale of Cape Town’s R43bn three-year infrastructure pipeline – bigger than Joburg and Durban combined – will create an estimated 135 000 jobs in the city over three years,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
Tackling lagoon pollution through infrastructure enhancements, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, detailed the Milnerton bulk sewer upgrade’s comprehensive scope, which incorporates the incorporation of a sandtrap and screening facility at the Koeberg Road Pump Station. This strategic addition aims to enhance operational efficiency and diminish breakdowns arising from foreign objects infiltrating the pump station.
Furthermore, a new 300-metre-long bulk outfall sewer, boasting a diameter of 1,350mm, is slated for construction at the Koeberg Road Pump Station. This conduit will efficiently accommodate the combined flow from both the existing and new Montague Gardens bulk sewers. These enhancements at the Koeberg Road Pump Station are projected to curtail sewer spills into the Diep River, thus mitigating environmental strain.
In line with its overarching objective of revitalising the environmental health of the Milnerton Lagoon, the City plans to execute a combination of infrastructure upgrades and sediment dredging to alleviate pollution accumulation within the water body.
Adjacent to the Milnerton Bulk Sewer Upgrade, the area is poised to witness other significant infrastructure ventures, including a R5.2 billion capacity-doubling upgrade at the Potsdam Wastewater Works, a notable project ranking as the Western Cape’s second-largest infrastructure initiative. Additionally, the R118 million Koeberg Pump Station Upgrade forms a pivotal part of this regional transformation.
Cape Town’s commitment to sewer pipe replacement is also noteworthy. Exceeding its goal of doubling sewer pipe replacement from 25 kilometres to 50 kilometres for the 2022–23 fiscal year, the City managed to replace a total of 55 kilometres of the pipeline by the conclusion of June 2023. Building on this success, the annual target for pipe replacement will be elevated once more to an impressive 100 kilometres per year, commencing from the 2023/24 period, with a cumulative investment of R850 million spanning three years.
Sewer pipe replacement is an integral aspect of the City’s strategy to gradually reduce sewer spills over time. This approach is supported by substantial efforts, including major bulk sewer upgrades, proactive sewer line cleaning initiatives, dedicated teams for sewer spill responses and the implementation of digital telemetry systems for early alerts regarding sewer spill incidents.
These comprehensive interventions have precipitated a downward trend of approximately 30% in reported sewer spills within Cape Town over the last two years, as evidenced by preliminary data. To enhance monitoring and coordination of sewer spill responsiveness progress, the City is rolling out a reactive incident management system (RIMA), digitising the coordination process.
Noteworthy sewer pipe replacement projects that contributed to the 50-kilometre target for the 2022–23 fiscal year include a major bulk rehabilitation project for the Cape Flats Bulk Sewer Rehabilitation, 22 successfully completed projects and 14 ongoing projects across various locations within the metropolitan area.
Looking forward, the City is gearing up to tackle an ambitious target of replacing 100 kilometres of sewer pipe in the 2023–24 period, with plans encompassing an array of locations.
This strategic initiative encompasses localities such as Brackenfell Industrial, Stikland Industrial, Kraaifontein Industrial, Bellville, Welgemoed, Bergvliet, Muizenberg, Lotus River, Constantia, Tokai, Wynberg, Broadlands, Strand, Kuils River, Mission Grounds/Sir Lowry’s Pass, Tuscany Glen, Eerstriver South, Kraaifontein, Eversdal and many more.
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