An R11,4 million project to proactively replace 3,7km of ageing sewer infrastructure in Wellway Park, Durbanville, is well under way, with the work scheduled to be completed by April 2027.

The project forms part of the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s proactive pipe replacement programme, which aims to rehabilitate or replace up to 100km of sewer infrastructure across Cape Town each year. 

The work involves rehabilitating 3,7km of 160mm-diameter sewer mains in Hibiscus, Bethen, Eike, Mimosa, Coral, Denne, Bauhinia, Sipres, Boland and Blueberry Lane.

The existing sewer pipes, which are more than 40 years old, are being replaced before they deteriorate further and potentially fail. The work is being carried out using pipe cracking, a semi-trenchless method that allows new high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes to be installed with less excavation and disruption than conventional replacement methods.

The process includes temporarily bypassing sewer flows, excavating launching and receiving pits, reconnecting household connections to the new pipeline, installing and welding the HDPE pipes, conducting CCTV inspections and final testing.

‘Our responsibility is not only to respond when infrastructure fails, but to plan ahead and steadily renew the systems that communities depend on every day. In Wellway Park, that means replacing ageing sewer infrastructure before it becomes a bigger problem for residents.

‘This is part of our broader plan for Cape Town: to build a more reliable and resilient water and sanitation system, community by community. We are investing deliberately in the infrastructure beneath our streets so that the city can continue to grow while residents receive the dependable services they should be able to expect,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Alderman Zahid Badroodien.

Residents can also help prevent sewer overflows:

• Don't flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper. Anything else will block the pipes.
• Use only the City's solid waste services provided to get rid of your waste.
• Report sewer blockages and overflows using one of the City's official channels.
• Report vandalism of the sewer system and stolen or missing sewer manhole covers.
• Use the City's drop-off facilities to get rid of recyclables.