R1,3 bn upgrade in the pipeline for Macassar Wastewater Treatment Works

21 November 2025

Residents and stakeholders are invited to attend an Open Day at the Macassar New Civic Centre on Thursday, 27 November 2025, where the City will share details about the proposed R1,3 billion (excluding VAT) upgrade of the Macassar Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW). The upgrade will feature modern, energy-efficient infrastructure designed to meet the community’s growing needs.

The extensive upgrade will more than double the plant’s current treatment capacity, from 34 million litres per day (Ml/d) to 80 Ml/d, to cater for population growth over the next 20 years.
 
Open Day event details:
• Date: Thursday, 27 November 2025
• Time: 16:00 – 19:00
• Venue: Macassar New Civic Centre, Burg Street, Macassar, Cape Town, 7130

‘I want to encourage residents of Macassar and surrounding areas to attend the Open Day to learn more about the City’s planned R1,3 billion upgrade. It’s also an opportunity to find out more about potential job opportunities that may become available for local residents as part of this major project that will benefit the community,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.
 
The project is divided into two phases – civil and mechanical/electrical.
 
The current phase, which forms part of the civil project, includes upgrading the existing process trains to optimise treatment processes, significantly improve effluent quality, and ensure compliance with environmental licence standards. Civil works are expected to start in January 2026, once the contractor is appointed.

The upgrade and extension will address current capacity constraints, reduce energy consumption, optimise operation and maintenance, and improve the inland water quality of the Eerste River.
 
Key improvements:
• New inlet works providing enhanced screening and degritting
• Flow balancing
• Primary sedimentation to reduce nutrient loads
• New biological reactors with full nutrient removal process configuration
• Secondary settling tanks
• UV and chlorine disinfection
• Refurbishment of maturation ponds
• Gravity sludge thickeners
• Anaerobic digesters
• Combined heat and power installation
• Dewatering building
• Dewatered sludge storage silos
• Blower building
• Treated storage effluent pump station
• Filter rooms
• Buildings associated with pump stations
• Associated pipework
• General civil engineering services
 
Caption 1: 3D rendering of the future upgraded plant

Caption 2: Aerial view rendering of the future upgraded plant

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office