Cleaning of Potsdam maturation ponds to benefit residents, environment

13 April 2023

The Potsdam Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) is currently undergoing a crucial process to the tune of R4,5 million, which will see the maturation ponds cleaned to improve the quality of treated effluent that discharges into the Diep River as well as treated effluent provided to end users in the northern part of the city. 

On Thursday, 13 April 2023, the Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien conducted a site visit at Potsdam to see the progress being made. Cleaning began in March and is set to be completed by the end of June.

The maturation ponds are part of the water treatment system, and use natural methods to further clean and disinfect the water from the secondary treatment process.

Effluent is meant to be retained in these ponds before release, but pollution build-up in the pond sediment has prevented this. As a result, the ponds are currently being by-passed using pumps as far as possible.

'Before cleaning began, the ponds would contaminate the treated water. By bypassing the contaminated ponds, the main and most important benefit is that water test results show the combined Total Suspended Solids (TSS) concentrations are now within the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) limits,' said Councillor Badroodien.

Cleaning the ponds will allow them to perform their designed duty to further polish and naturally disinfect the treated effluent. This will also allow the City to reinstate the UV disinfection process, instead of chlorine disinfection, further ensuring a cleaner outflow.

'Pond cleaning historically was scheduled once every three years, but due to ageing infrastructure and equipment, the ponds have been contaminated frequently. In order to ensure effluent compliance during this time, pond cleaning is now scheduled for once per year,' Councillor Badroodien explained.

This forms part of the larger, R5bn upgrade plans for the Potsdam WWTW which were approved at Council on 29 March after the required Section 33 Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) public participation process was concluded.

The upgrade includes plans for mechanical and electrical infrastructure to upgrade and expand Potsdam WWTW, as well as civil construction of infrastructure and buildings.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office