City launches public participation process for marine outfalls and more
21 September 2023
Residents and interested stakeholders will have the opportunity from today, Thursday, 21 September 2023 until Tuesday, 21 November 2023, to submit their comments during the 60-day public participation period on the marine outfalls discharge permits applications. They can also comment on the permits for the Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) in Mitchells Plain, Simon’s Town, Millers Point, Oudekraal and Llandudno.The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate launched the public participation process and outlined its details at a public meeting last night held at Camps Bay High School.
About the three City-operated marine outfalls:
- The marine outfalls are located offshore discharging beyond the intertidal zone at Hout Bay, Green Point and Camps Bay.
- These discharge wastewater into the ocean that has gone through degritting and screening.
- All other areas in Cape Town are serviced by 23 wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) which treats sewage, removing the various nutrient loads before it is released as treated effluent into the ocean. In total, 95% of Cape Town’s wastewater is discharged from WWTW, compared to 5% from the three outfalls.
- The City is making major investments to improve wastewater treatment and upgrade sewers, to the benefit of inland and coastal water quality, with a 226% increase in the overall infrastructure budget, from R2,3bn in 2022/23 to R7,8bn in 2025/26.
- Coastal outfalls are a global practice which is guided by local engineering and environmental pollution legislation and guidelines.
- In some cases, spatial and environmental constraints inhibit wastewater treatment works at small coastal enclaves. For example, there are major spatial, practical, and financial constraints to building a multi-billion rand WWTW in the area to service the Green Point, Hout Bay and Camps Bay catchments. Substantial reconfiguring of the existing sewer network would also be required in these areas.
- An expert summary report on seven major studies into the outfalls concluded that “the marine outfalls are meeting their design objectives in reducing potential deleterious ecological and/or human health effects of discharged effluent by taking advantage of increased effluent dilution offered by deep water”.
‘The Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Environment (DFFE) is currently considering appeals to her Department’s granting of permits for the three marine outfalls in the City of Cape Town. Because the Minister is only deciding the appeal eight years after public participation was conducted, the Minister has determined that the City should collate fresh public inputs to enable her to decide the merits of the appeal.
‘The City welcomes the opportunity to do this as since the initial public participation, seven major studies have been undertaken by different and independent marine science experts. In the meantime, the City continues to operate the marine outfalls with its current permits and within its licence conditions that have been issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation/ DFFE.
‘The City further commissioned a study on the feasibility and costing of various options regarding the outfalls. The draft scoping report for this study has been completed by 30 June 2023. Further community engagements are planned for later this year on the way forward regarding outfalls once the City has had an opportunity to consider the outcome of the study,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
About the permits for the Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) in Mitchells Plain, Simon’s Town, Millers Point, Oudekraal and Llandudno.
The City is also proactively including these five WWTWs in the public participation process so the public can comment on these permit applications too.
Please note: This is not related to the marine outfalls permit applications.
Public participation details:
‘It is important for the City to give the public a fair chance to provide their considered, informed inputs on these matters. We encourage residents and stakeholders to submit their comments during this fresh 60-day public participation period. After this period, the City will respond to the comments received and thereafter also submit both the public’s comments and the City’s responses to the National DFFE for its decision on the applications. We want to hear from the public so don’t miss this opportunity,’ said Councillor Badroodien.
From Thursday, 21 September 2023 to Tuesday, 21 November 2023:
View the applications:
• Online: www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay
• At sub-councils: https://bit.ly/3CUlnKW
• At libraries: https://bit.ly/3nQvqKH
• On-site at each of the marine outfall depots
For more information, email: public.participation@capetown.gov.za
Submit comments:
• Online: www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay
• Via Email: public.participation@capetown.gov.za
• At Sub-councils: https://bit.ly/3CUlnKW
Other information:
• Marine outfalls FAQ and more research reports and findings: https://bit.ly/3Z5EwDY
• For City updates on the public participation process, email Communications.WaterandSanitation@capetown.gov.za
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office