The City of Cape Town wishes to warn all citizens that its water quality scientists have detected increasing ecoli and faecal coliform counts – the indicator of poor quality water - in the metropole’s fourteen rivers and ten wetlands over the past decade.
In the past eight years, the average conformity with acceptable standards of inland water resources for general recreational use has declined from 80% to 58%.
"We urge residents to exercise caution and wherever possible avoid contact with water that has flowed through formal and informal residential and industrial areas,” says Councillor Clive Justus, Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services.
Signs have been erected in problem areas to warn residents about the dangers of polluted water.”
The City strictly monitors the water quality of its inland water sources in terms of the standards prescribed by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. The data is then used by various departments to manage water pollution.
The rise in water pollution levels can be attributed to rapid urbanisation, an increase in the number of informal settlements without adequate services, and aging infrastructure.
“The latest pollution figures have confirmed a worsening trend in pollution levels, and have increased the urgency of our programme to invest in new infrastructure, especially sewage and wastewater treatment capacity, and stormwater capacity. Cape Town’s population has increased from 800 000 people to 3.4 million in the past 50 years, but infrastructure investment has not kept pace with this growth. Our infrastructure is now under great strain, so we have to move fast to catch up with the backlogs and get ahead of the curve. That is why our IDP focuses on ‘infrastructure led economic growth’ “, Cllr Justus said.
R280 million has been budgeted during this financial year to upgrade Cape Town’s wastewater treatment plants. This will significantly improve the quality of treated water entering the vleis, rivers and sea.
The City is also building a new wastewater treatment plant at Fisantekraal (north of Durbanville), and upgrading existing facilities at Potsdam, Athlone, Zandvliet, Bellville, Scottsdene and Wesfleur to provide adequate treatment capacity.
In addition, an environmental impact assessment is underway as a prelude to constructing more facilities in the Blaauwberg area.
The City’s multi-disciplinary team is monitoring water quality and identifying sources of pollution. Programmes to improve the quality of the stormwater discharge are also underway. “There is no quick-fix solution and we realise that the water quality will only improve significantly once the infrastructure backlog is eliminated.
“The City has implemented public partnerships encouraging residents to assist us in reducing the pollution of our natural waterways by preventing blockages in sewers, reporting faults such as sewer overflows or the illegal dumping of refuse,” said Cllr Justus.
MEDIA QUERIES:
COUNCILLOR CLIVE JUSTUS, TEL: 021 400 1206 or CELL: 083 628 4136