8,4km of sewers in Parow Valley successfully rehabilitated
12 June 2025
Two major sewer rehabilitation projects in Parow Valley, launched in February 2025, have been successfully completed ahead of schedule. These upgrades form part of the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s proactive pipe replacement programme, which aims to rehabilitate or replace up to 100km of sewer infrastructure annually across Cape Town.
The work was undertaken as part of the Mayor’s Priority
Programme (MPP), through which Water and Sanitation has expanded its Sewer and
Water Pipe Replacement Programme. A total of R523 million has been allocated to
infrastructure maintenance and pipe replacement during the 2024/25 financial
year.
Due to the deteriorating condition of sewer infrastructure in
the area, two separate rehabilitation projects were implemented.
- Project 1: Rehabilitated 4,24km of 150mm diameter sewer mains
across Market, Connaught, Rissik, Philips, Taylor, Potgieter, Prinsloo,
Eland, Frederick, De Villiers, Jacaranda, Piet Retief, Hartbees, Paul
Kruger, and Van Wyk Streets.
- Project 2: Rehabilitated 4,2km of 150mm to 225mm sewer mains in
Joubert, Connaught, Rissik, Willie Van Der Poel, Taylor, Prinsloo, Moore,
Frederick, De Villiers, Vlei, Riley, and Piet Retief Streets.
Some streets were shared between
the two projects due to their length.
Both projects were completed on 14 April 2025, well ahead of
the anticipated completion date in June.
The rehabilitation used a cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining
method, a widely adopted trenchless technique that restores ageing sewer mains
with minimal disruption to the surrounding area. This method included:
- Isolating sections of the
pipeline;
- Over-pumping or bypassing
flows;
- Inserting a resin-saturated
liner into the host pipe;
- Curing the liner in place;
- CCTV inspections;
- Robotic cutting; and
- Final pipe testing.
‘Rehabilitating ageing infrastructure is part of our broader
strategy to ensure more reliable sanitation services across the city. While
infrastructure upgrades are essential, preventing blockages also depends on
responsible usage. Flushing items like nappies, rags, and other foreign
materials causes avoidable sewer overflows. These items should never be flushed
or disposed of down drains,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and
Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
Residents can help reduce sewer overflows:
Don't flush anything other than human waste and toilet
paper. Anything else will block the pipes. See www.capetown.gov.za/blocked-sewers.
Use only the City's solid waste services provided to
get rid of your waste.
Report sewer blockages and overflows using one of the
City's official channels.
Report vandalism of the sewer system and stolen or
missing sewer manhole covers.
Use the City's drop-off facilities to get rid of
recyclables. See https://bit.ly/3mhagVh
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
