Ramped up efforts keep City’s 487 sewer stations pumping
08 May 2025
Leading up to winter, the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is actioning proactive efforts including increased wet-well cleaning, general servicing and maintenance of pump stations, generators and related equipment to help prepare sewer pump stations for the rainy season. This action plan was a fundamental reason for zero beach closures due to pump station failures during the 2024/2025 summer season.
The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate manages 487 sewer pump stations across Cape Town, 102 of which are coastal stations located in areas such as Melkbosstrand, Big Bay, Sunset Beach, Milnerton, the Atlantic Seaboard, Llandudno, Hout Bay, Kommetjie, Simon’s Town, Fish Hoek/Kalk Bay, Mitchells Plain, Muizenberg, Strand and Gordon’s Bay.
During summer the City intensified its maintenance efforts to ensure the efficient operation of sewer pump stations, creating a safe and enjoyable environment for beachgoers across Cape Town.
Key actions implemented during summer:
Proactively monitoring sewer pump stations through a remote telemetry system at the pump station control room, supported by regular on-site inspections by pump station operators.
Some pump stations have also been equipped with generators or uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems to mitigate load-shedding and power supply interruptions.
Daily inspections were done at all coastal pump stations to check for wear and tear, damage or leaks, and wet-well cleaning to handle increased wastewater flow.
Regular de-ragging of pumps and impellers were done to prevent blockages.
Standby teams were available to respond promptly to any after-hours emergencies.
Getting sewer pump stations ready for winter
As Cape Town transitions into the winter season similar efforts are underway, focusing on clearing wet-wells of foreign objects and rags to reduce the risk of pump blockages and damage.
During last winter, sewer pump stations handled an astonishing 250% excess sewage volume, with stormwater ingress reaching approximately 300% – 10 times more than their designed capacity. Typically, pump stations are built to accommodate an additional 30% stormwater ingress.
To mitigate this challenge, the City has conducted extensive investigations to identify and eliminate illegal stormwater-to-sewer connections, preventing excess stormwater from overwhelming the sewer network.
In addition, the City has allocated over R5,6 million in the 2024/2025 financial year for installing screens at pump stations. These screens are designed to filter out foreign objects, enhancing pump reliability and reducing blockages.
‘The City’s sewer pump station teams deserve commendation for their relentless efforts in maintaining Cape Town’s sewer infrastructure.
‘While our teams are proactive in ensuring efficient pump station operations, residents must understand that illegal dumping and flushing foreign objects remain the primary causes of pump station failures. Our teams continue to find spades, tyres, duvets, concrete blocks, construction planks, wood pieces and irrigation piping obstructing the system. The sheer volume of foreign objects in the sewage system has forced us to overhaul our operational strategies, which is both time-consuming and costly.
‘We urge residents to work with us in protecting our sewer infrastructure. By preventing illegal dumping and mindful disposal practices, we can collectively reduce sewer overflows and safeguard both our communities and the environment,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
