Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis paid a visit to the Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works on Wednesday to signal the commencement of a R5.2 billion upgrade project. This initiative stands as the Western Cape’s second-largest infrastructure endeavour.
The City’s objective is to finalise the enhancement by 2027, with a testing phase set to begin in 2026. The primary aim is the gradual restoration of the environmental well-being of Milnerton Lagoon. This restoration will be achieved through a combination of infrastructural improvements and the dredging of the waterbody to eliminate accumulated pollution in the sediment.
Also read: Contracts for multibillion-rand Potsdam project due for approval this month
This upgrade is poised to double the facility’s capacity, enabling it to accommodate the escalating demands of the growing city. The capacity will surge from 47 to 100 million litres of treated wastewater each day. Advanced membrane technology will be progressively incorporated to ensure the attainment of rigorous wastewater treatment standards. Additional sizeable sewerage infrastructure enhancements are concurrently taking place nearby. These include the R430 million Montague Gardens Bulk Sewer Rehabilitation, the R118 million Koeberg Pump Station Upgrade and comprehensive long-term programmes focused on pump station and pipe replacements.
Mayor Hill-Lewis affirmed, ‘The R5,2 billion Potsdam upgrade is a critical part of our plan to restore the environmental health of Milnerton Lagoon, which is a non-negotiable for the City. The aim is to steadily close off pollution sources to the lagoon over time, building up to the ultimate goal of dredging the water body to remove the sediment containing the decades-long build-up of pollution.’
He said that the deployment of state-of-the-art wastewater treatment technology at Potsdam will be synchronised with the completion of dredging activities at the lagoon, projected to occur in approximately two years.
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Mayor Hill-Lewis emphasised the significance of this initiative, stating, ‘This is a Priority programme of this administration, and we are closely tracking the multi-billion-rand upgrades to Potsdam and the surrounding sewer network to ensure these are completed timeously.’
Cape Town is substantially intensifying its infrastructure investments, with an impressive 223% surge in its Water and Sanitation infrastructure budget across a three-year span. The budget has surged from R2.3 billion in 2022/23 to R7.8 billion in 2025/26. Notable components include:
- Capital expenditure amounting to R8.6 billion for WWTW upgrades over three years
- Allocation of R1.3 billion for proactive sewer spill management, including the jet-cleaning of 200km of sewers annually
- Investment of R1.4 billion in upgrading bulk sewers for Cape Flats, Milnerton, Philippi and Gordon’s Bay lines
- Quadrupling of pipe replacements, increasing from 25km in 2021/22 to an annual 100km, with a total investment of R850 million over three years.
To address pollution concerns in the Diep River catchment, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, mayoral committee member for water and sanitation, detailed a series of short-term measures. These actions include the installation of over 20 litter nets along the Diep River, as well as the extension of waste interception efforts to encompass the Black and Salt Rivers, along with the Jakkalsvlei Canal. Additionally, corrective measures are being taken to address cross-connections introduced by residents between Stormwater and Sewer pipes, complemented by ongoing enforcement of by-laws. Furthermore, essential maintenance activities are progressing well at Potsdam to enhance treated effluent quality. These efforts involve significant cleaning of maturation ponds and the redesign of natural reed beds to halt the flow of pollution into the Diep River.
Councillor Badroodien highlighted the importance of collaboration with local communities and civil society stakeholders. He emphasised the significance of information sharing and public engagement, all of which constitute crucial elements of the action plan.
‘Collaboration with local communities and civil society stakeholders, information sharing and public involvement are essential aspects of our action plan,’ said Councillor Badroodien.
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook