The City of Cape Town has published its Annual Inland Water Quality report for the period of 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2023, detailing the ongoing efforts and challenges to improving water quality across rivers, wetlands, vleis, and other inland water bodies.
The Inland Water Quality report reveals that incidents of raw sewage contamination in Cape Town’s waterways have risen from 49% in 2019 to 59% in 2023.
The report found that sewage contamination is "a serious concern both to public health and the environment," especially in areas that "experience a relatively high frequency of sewage spills (largely due to vandalism and system misuse) and which receive runoff from informal settlements often contaminated by greywater and sewage."
The rise in contamination is attributed to an increase in load shedding, which has affected sewage pump stations and wastewater treatment plants.
Additionally, the expansion of poorly serviced informal settlements and the deterioration of infrastructure, including vandalism and poor maintenance, have contributed to the problem.
The report found that contamination stems from sewer blockages, sewage pump station overflows, contaminated stormwater runoff, and illegal sewer and stormwater connections.
The City operates 25 wastewater treatment works, 17 of which release effluent into inland aquatic ecosystems, accounting for around 95% of the city's total sewage volume.
However, only five of these facilities consistently meet the Department of Water and Sanitation’s "general limits" for E. coli, while the majority of the others produce effluent with E. coli counts significantly above acceptable levels.
The report also noted that "budget cuts (from early 2024) will clearly constrain the ability of the city to increase sewer servicing to expanding informal communities; increase solid waste collection frequency and efficiency; enforce existing by-laws around dumping and pollution; and ensure within-City compliance with meeting the water quality licensing requirements of its WWTWs and preventing pollution of watercourses through sewage pump station failure and sewer overflows."
In line with Cape Town's vision to evolve into a water-sensitive city by 2040, significant initiatives have been undertaken to improve the ecological health of its inland water systems.
The City is actively implementing several initiatives to improve inland water quality:
The Mayor’s Priority Programme for Sanitation and Inland Water Quality aims to reduce pollution in Cape Town’s waterways while improving aquatic ecosystem health.
The Liveable Urban Waterways Programme focuses on rehabilitating waterways to foster biodiversity, recreational opportunities, and community involvement. Currently, five projects are under way with additional ones planned.
A total of R2 billion has been allocated for this 2024/2025 financial year alone for extensions and upgrades at wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) and R1 billion towards projects aimed at preventing sewer overflows, such as pump station upgrades, sewer cleaning and replacement programmes. (capetown.gov.za/Media-and-news/Cape Town’s R5bn budget set for water and sanitation investments)
Professor Kevin Winter from the University of Cape Town's Future Water Institute stated: "It is a disgrace that many of Cape Town's wastewater treatment works, which account for 95% of the sewage effluent that affects marine ecosystems and public health, have deteriorated over the last three years and are failing to comply with water quality standards and targets."
"The deterioration in water quality in most rivers and estuaries is deplorable. Turning the tide on the causes of pollution is hugely challenging, and we need to treble our efforts."
"It will take a lot more time to turn the tide, but it is a battle we cannot and must not lose," Winter said.
Comments