Water and Sanitation soars, with 95% capital spend of the largest budget allocation in the City

15 August 2023

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate successfully achieved 95% spend of its R2,385 billion capital budget in the 2022/23 financial year. This proves our commitment to investing in infrastructure which ultimately provides access to good quality drinking water and dignified sanitation, particularly in informal settlements. 

'One must commend our Water and Sanitation staff, who managed the highest allocation of capital expenditure within the City in the 2022/23 financial year. Some of the major successes have been in enhancing wastewater treatment capacity. R248 million was spent on upgrades to Zandvliet Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) and R129 million on the commencement of the extension of Potsdam WWTW, after years of delay,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien

Other major projects contributed to this expenditure including:

• R221 million on the Cape Flats Aquifer Recharge
• R159 million replacement and upgrades of the sewer pipe network
• R104 million on upgrades to sewer pump stations
• R118 million towards the Cape Flats sewer pipeline rehabilitation and
• R117 million upgrade of the water pipe network
  

To combat load-shedding, the Directorate pioneered the installation of Uninterrupted Power Supply Systems (UPS) at pump stations and paired this with security upgrades to reduce vandalism.

'This financial year will present new challenges as our capital budget doubles. R4,3 billion has been allocated to enable us to deliver on the objectives set out in the City's Water Strategy. R604 million will be going towards the New Water Programme for the Cape Flats, Atlantis and Table Mountain Group aquifers, as well as the Faure New Water plant,' said Councillor Badroodien.

A further R38 million has also been made available for new taps and toilets in informal settlements, and the drive to repair leaks in indigent households will continue to be implemented beyond the 534 households who have already benefitted thus far.

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office