Construction on the R5,2 billion upgrade at Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works (PWWTW) has finally started on Wednesday, all in the hope of restoring the environmental health of the Milnerton Lagoon.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis on Wednesday visited the site to mark the start of construction, the Western Cape’s second largest infrastructure project.
The upgrade will be finalised in 2027, with the operational trial starting in 2026.
“The City’s goal is to steadily restore the environmental health of the Milnerton Lagoon through a combination of infrastructure upgrades and dredging of the waterbody to remove pollution build-up in sediment,” the mayor said at the site on Wednesday.
The Potsdam upgrade is set to double the plant’s capacity to handle the needs of a growing city, from 47 million litres of treated wastewater per day to 100 million litres per day. Cutting-edge membrane technology will be progressively added to ensure high wastewater treatment standards.
Other major sewerage infrastructure upgrades underway in the vicinity include the R430 million Montague Gardens bulk sewer rehabilitation, R118 million Koeberg Pump Station upgrade, and long-term pump station and pipe replacement programmes.
Environmentalist Caroline Marx said with the current plant already reporting improved effluent quality after refurbishment and other projects due to start later this year, this is a major step forward.
“Thank you to all those who share our vision of clean, healthy wetlands, rivers and oceans and have supported us in so many ways, from liking and sharing posts to attending clean-ups and long meetings, you have made a difference. There are still many challenges ahead, but we will get there,” Marx said.
Dredging of lagoon
According to the City, the R5,2 billion Potsdam upgrade is a critical part of their 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.
“Dredging design will be completed soon, with environmental approvals targeted within 12 months,” Hill-Lewis said.
They plan to dovetail the installation of cutting-edge wastewater treatment tech at Potsdam, with the completion of dredging at the lagoon, in around two years.
“We will be closely tracking our multi-billion rand upgrades to Potsdam and the surrounding sewer network to ensure these are completed timeously,” Hill-Lewis said on Wednesday.
“So far, the City has installed over 20 litter nets all along the Diep River, and expanded our waste interception to the Black and Salt Rivers, as well as the Jakkalsvlei canal.”
Zahid Badroodien, Mayco member for water and sanitation, said the City is taking a range of short term actions to combat pollution in the Diep River catchment.
“We are also investigating and correcting cross connections created by residents from stormwater and sewer pipes, alongside ongoing by-law enforcement operations.
“We are also making progress on critical maintenance work to improve treated effluent quality at Potsdam, including major cleaning work to maturation ponds and the re-engineering of natural reed beds to prevent pollution from reaching the Diep River.
“Collaboration with local communities and civil society stakeholders, information sharing, and public involvement are essential aspects of our action plan,” Badroodien said.
