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Residents updated on City’s multi-pronged effort to improve water quality in Milnerton Lagoon

The City’s Water and Sanitation Department held its quarterly public meeting in Milnerton on Thursday, 27 February 2025, to engage with residents on the various interventions currently under way aimed at addressing sources of pollution affecting water quality of the Diep River and Milnerton Lagoon.

‘The City acknowledges the frustration experienced by residents living near the Milnerton lagoon and is making every effort to find solutions for the negative impact on quality of life. ‘Some interventions are already being implemented, while others are being investigated or are in the planning stage as we explore all viable mitigation options,’ said City's Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien. <figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> <img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/Residents%20updated%20on%20City%e2%80%99s%20multi-pronged%20effort%20to%20improve%20water%20quality%20in%20Milnerton%20Lagoon%201.jpg" alt="" style="width:877px;" /> </figure>Short term interventions: • Sewer infrastructure maintenance and upgrades Rehabilitation of sewer infrastructure using Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) technology is in progress. The current project was fast-tracked along Omuramba and Racecourse roads towards Montague Drive, with the final section of CIPP lining completed on 5 December 2024. This successfully restored full operation of the Phoenix/Joe Slovo Pump Station. At Koeberg Pump Station, maintenance now includes manual screen cleaning done to remove debris weekly. Daily checks are also in place to monitor pumps to ensure that they are in working order. Significant investments have also been made to upgrade facilities at Koeberg Pump Station, including: construction of manual screens, replacement of defective valves and setting up a new alarm system. Installation of a new sand trap and screening facility is currently 81% complete, which is expected to reduce blockages significantly as silt and debris are removed from the sewer flow. • Sanitation maintenance in Joe Slovo More regular bucket cleaning of sewer pipes along Freedom Way is now scheduled every three months. This intervention is part of the preventative sewer network maintenance programme, which includes jet-cleaning pipes along key streets, as well as manhole inspections to prevent blockages and overflows. • Addressing illegal sewer connections and enforcing bylaws The City has successfully re-isolated Joe Slovo within a Pressure Management Zone (PMZ), to reduce excessive potable water pressure. This has had a positive outcome in reducing water leakages. Night-time flow has decreased from 32 litres per second to 20 litres per second, equating to a daily reduction of 0,5 megalitres of potable water leakages. As a result, there is less hydraulic load on the sewer system, which makes sewer pump levels more manageable. <figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> <img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/Residents%20updated%20on%20City%e2%80%99s%20multi-pronged%20effort%20to%20improve%20water%20quality%20in%20Milnerton%20Lagoon%202.jpg" alt="" style="width:980px;" /> </figure>In addition, the Water Pollution Control team has conducted surveys to identify illegal sewer-to-storm water connections in Joe Slovo and Dunoon, which contribute to water pollution. Initially property owners were informed about the impact of these violations on water quality and public health. After issuing 76 contravention notices, a follow-up inspection showed an improved 71% compliance rate, with 54 property owners rectifying their illegal connections. Unfortunately, those who failed to comply were disconnected. Grease-trap inspections have also been carried out at various restaurants in Canal Walk, Centre Point and Paddocks Mall in the Lower Diep River catchment area. As a result, many establishments have now installed proper grease trap systems in compliance with the Wastewater and Industrial Effluent By-law. • Air-quality monitoring and bioremediation pilot To monitor hydrogen sulphide (H2S) levels in the air at Milnerton Lagoon, a temporary ambient air quality monitoring station was installed at Woodbridge Island and commissioned on 26 February 2025. This follows vandalism of the City’s H2S monitoring station in 2023. Plans are in place to permanently relocate it back to the vicinity of the Milnerton Lagoon Canoe Club, once a protective steel cage has been manufactured to prevent further vandalism and tampering. The City is also exploring the possibility of applying remediation solutions as treatments for water pollution in the lagoon. The Scientific Services Branch will conduct a pilot study in March/May 2025 to test bio-enzymes and nanobubbler technology. <figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> <img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/Residents%20updated%20on%20City%e2%80%99s%20multi-pronged%20effort%20to%20improve%20water%20quality%20in%20Milnerton%20Lagoon%203.jpg" alt="" style="width:1095px;" /> </figure>Medium term interventions: • Pump station upgrades The Phoenix Park Pump Station upgrade is scheduled to take place between the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years. Upgrades will include: a sand trap; an automated screening facility and a Low Flow Diversion (LFD) system, to redirect contaminated stormwater from Joe Slovo to the Koeberg Road Pump Station. The Lupin Crescent Pump Station upgrade will then follow in the 2030/31 financial year, once the Koeberg Road Pump Station capacity upgrade is completed in 2027/28. • Milky Way Pond rehabilitation To improve stormwater quality at Milky Way Pond (which receives stormwater from Joe Slovo), and thereby reduce pollution entering the Diep River; the following enhancements are planned: o Installing a solid waste screen at the pond inlet o Constructing a low-flow diversion to redirect contaminated stormwater to the Phoenix Pump Station o Landscaping and pond floor alignment to improve treatment capacity and amenity o Securing the area to prevent illegal dumping. This project is expected to be completed by 2027, alongside the Phoenix Pump Station upgrade. Long term interventions: • Upgrade of Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) The City continues to invest in large-scale infrastructure projects to improve water and sanitation services. One of the most significant projects is the R5,2 billion upgrade of the Potsdam WWTW, which will increase treatment capacity from 47 million to 100 million litres per day. While the full benefits of this upgrade will be realised by 2027, some process units have been fast-tracked for completion by mid-2025 to improve effluent quality. The latest progress developments include: o Cleaning and repairing of the Primary Settling Tanks (PST): The last of five PSTs was cleared of sand at the end of February 2025. Completion of the effluent micro screens, ultrafiltration membranes and waste sludge dewatering is expected between April and August 2025. o Completion of civil construction for the new dewatering plant: now transitioning to mechanical and electrical installation. This includes eight new primary and eight new secondary waste sludge belt presses, to maintain a consistent sludge age designed to improve treated effluent quality. o Commissioning of dewatering and ultrafiltration systems: by mid-2025 is expected to have a positive impact on overall plant operations and water quality. • Stormwater master plan for Dunoon and Doornbach The City has appointed Lukhozi Consulting Engineers to conduct a bulk stormwater water quality, master plan study for the Du Noon and Doornbach areas. These rapidly densifying communities contribute to pollution in the Diep River due to: o A lack of formal stormwater and sewer drainage infrastructure o Illegal sewer connections o Direct discharge of greywater into streets and stormwater drains The master plan will guide future infrastructure improvements to address these issues. It is currently in the conceptual design stage. Montague Drive bulk sewer systems Phase 1 of the R474 million Milnerton Bulk Sewer upgrade started in 2023, and will be completed in 2025.Phase 1 of the Montague Drive bulk sewer upgrade is currently 50% complete. Several components are at different stages of progress, while over 4km of micro-tunneling is nearing completion. Phase 2 is in design stage, with construction planned to take place from August 2025 to December 2026. Compliance and environmental oversight Where significant sewer-related incidents occur, the City complies with the requirements to notify the relevant environmental authorities. Reports on all remedial efforts are submitted monthly to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP), following directives that were issued to the City in 2020 and 2024 citing concerns about the frequency and severity of sewage-related incidents from Potsdam WWTW and Koeberg Road Pump Station. ‘The City remains committed to providing feedback and to address concerns raised by residents through its quarterly public meeting engagements. Details on projects are shared in open discussion with affected stakeholders to include them in the latest infrastructure investments, pollution mitigation strategies and both immediate and long-term interventions being implemented. ‘Our priority is to over time, restore the condition of water quality along the Diep River and at Milnerton Lagoon in a sustainable and efficient manner,’ said Councillor Badroodien. End

2025-03-05T22:00:00Z

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