City develops a standard procedure for temporary wastewater ‘packaged plants’

22 July 2022

The City of Cape Town wants to inform residents, developers and professionals in the built environment about a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which is geared toward applying for temporary package plants in areas draining into the Potsdam, Zandvliet and Macassar Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTWs). The aim of the standard procedure is to facilitate sustainable development in areas where the City’s wastewater treatment capacity is constrained. This creates a clear and transparent process.

The City is committed to doing everything possible to enable sustainable economic growth and development, while meeting obligations that take into account the capacity of services infrastructure when applications for new developments are submitted.

To facilitate continued development investment, we have developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Packaged Plants. The purpose of this is to give clarity and certainty to the development community and better enable them to proceed with investments.

While capacity upgrades are under way at the Potsdam, Zandvliet, and Macassar WWTWs, it is necessary to ensure sustainable development in suburbs falling within the drainage areas for these three plants.

The City's developed SOP outlines the process to receive, assess, and finalise development applications and answers the following basic questions.

How do I apply to make use of the temporary package plant?

A developer or built environment professional needs to make contact with one of the City's Development Management district offices. The contact details for these offices can be found here.

Developers are encouraged to send an email to PlanandBuilditRight@capetown.gov.za to subscribe to the Development Management's online portal for more information, maps of the suburbs and areas that are being affected, the SOP and further updates.

What will the process be, including public participation?

Once applicants contact the district planning office, it will trigger a pre-application consultation with the City.
City officials will guide the applicant on the process within the City.
Thereafter the application is evaluated including public participation.
Where a temporary package plant is recommended, the City issues an endorsement letter supporting the temporary package plant.
The developer should apply to external authorities (DWS and DEA &DP) for Water use and environmental approvals separately (with respect to the temporary package plant).
The applicant enters into a Water Services Intermediary (WSI) agreement with the City to establish and ensure compliance monitoring.
The Water Use and Environmental approvals will be part of the requirements to obtain the City's clearance for property transfer.
The packaged plant can then be utilised.
At the end of the agreement period when the City's wastewater capacity is available, the temporary packaged plant will be decommissioned and sewage can be discharged normally through the City's sewer network.

What help will we offer in securing national/provincial approvals?

As this is a pioneering initiative within the City, we will facilitate the contact both nationally and provincially to fast-track approvals. Furthermore, the City will support the process and be part of any inspections and handovers throughout the process.

How will development charge be discounted to help defray this cost?

The Water and Sanitation Directorate is submitting a report to Council to approve the waiver of the sewer portion of the development charge (DC).

The sewer tariff will also be adjusted for the period in which the temporary packaged plant is used instead of City infrastructure.

When will the SOP be active?

The current process in place since 2021 has been updated extensively and can be accessed immediately at Technical Advisory section of the City's Planning Portal website page to facilitate development in areas where the City is unable to deliver adequate wastewater treatment capacity.

List of areas draining to the relevant WWTWs

Potsdam WWTW

Acacia Park, Annandale Farm, Atlantis Gardens, Big Bay, Blaauwberg Strand, Blouberg Rise, Blouberg Sands, Bloubergrant, Bothasig, Brooklyn, Burgundy Estate, Century City, Dunoon, Edgemead, Flamingo Vlei, Glenwood, Joe Slovo Park, Kaapzicht, Killarney Gardens, Kleinbosch, Lagoon Beach, Marconi Beam, Milnerton, Milnerton Ridge, Montague, Montague Gardens, Monte Vista, N1-City, Parklands, Phoenix, Plattekloof Glen, Plattekloof Partial, Racing Park, Richmond Park, Richwood, Rivergate, Royal Ascot, Rugby, Sanddrift, Sandown, Summer Greens, Sunningdale, Sunridge, Sunset Beach, Sunset Links, Table View, The Stables, Tijgerhof, Tygerdal, Welgelegen, West Beach, West Riding, Ysterplaat

Zandvliet WWTW

Amandelsig, Austinville, Bellville Teachers College, Benno Park, Blackheath Industria, Blue Downs CBD, Bosonia, Brentwood Park – Blue Downs, Camelot, Danarand, De Kuilen, De Wijnlanden Estate, Delft 4, Delft South, Delro Village, Dennemere, Eerste Rivier South, Eikenbosch Kuils River, Eindhoven, Ekuphumleni, Electric City, Eyethu, Fairdale, Forest Heights, Forest Village, Fountain Village, Gaylee, Gersham, Graceland, Greenfields, Hagley, Happy Valley, Harare, Highbury, Highbury Park, Highgate, Hillcrest Heights, Hindle Park, Hunters Creek, Ilitha Park, Jagtershof, Kalkfontein, Khaya, Kleinvlei Town, Klipdam, Kuilsrivier South Smallholdings, Kuyasa, Leiden, Lillydale, Loucharmante, Malibu Village, Mandela Park, Mfuleni, Mikro Park, Mxolisi Phetani, Nonqubela, Oakdene, Roosendal, Rosedale – Klein Vlei, Rotterdam, Rustdal, Sabata Dalindyebo Square, Sarepta, Saxenburg Park 1, Silveroaks, Silversands, Silvertown – Khayelitsha, St Dumas, Sunbird Park, The Conifers, The Hague, Thembokwezi, Turtle Creek, Tuscany Glen, Umrhabulo Triangle, Victoria Mxenge, Voorbrug, Vredelust Kuils River, Wembley Park, Wesbank, Zevendal, Zevenzicht

Macassar WWTWs

All suburbs in the towns of Gordon's Bay, Sir Lowry's Pass Village, Strand, Somerset West, Firgrove, Croydon, Faure, Macassar and surrounding rural areas

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office