City recognised for efforts to improve inland water quality

15 February 2023

The City of Cape Town won first place at the Institute of Risk Management South Africa’s (IRMSA) 2022 annual awards in the Government and Public Services category for Water and Sanitation’s risk management approach to water quality in wetlands and waterways. This recognition underscores the City’s commitment to becoming a Water Sensitive City by 2040 and improving inland water quality. Read more below:

The City has made a commitment to progressively deliver enhanced basic services and a healthy urban environment, to improve the quality of life for Cape Town residents. The City has also committed in its Water Strategy to transition to a Water Sensitive City by 2040 that integrates the urban water cycle, builds resilience and protects the City’s sensitive natural ecosystems. To achieve this commitment, the City must substantially improve the quality of water in inland water bodies (‘ambient water quality’).

‘The water quality in Cape Town’s rivers, vleis and estuaries has been in long-term decline over the last two decades. Addressing chronic pollution in our waterways and wetlands is therefore not an overnight solve. It is a long-term journey that requires an all-hands-on-deck approach by all and includes infrastructure investment, partnerships, interventions, changing behaviour when it comes to getting rid of waste and addressing informality, among others.

‘Addressing pollution in Cape Town requires collaborative efforts between various stakeholders. Initiatives such as the Sanitation and Inland Water Quality Programme and the Section 80 Advisory Committee: Water Quality in Wetlands and Waterways are in line with this approach. Stakeholders created a platform where they could jointly problem solve, improving collaboration and communication to effectively work together to better the water quality,’ said Councillor Siseko Mbandezi, acting Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.

Ongoing actions over the next five years to help manage risks and improve water quality include:

Almost R4,5 billion for ongoing investment into sewer infrastructure, such as pump stations and the pipeline network, to help the reduce risk of overflows.
R14,3 billion for upgrading wastewater treatment plants to continue to ensure that wastewater is treated optimally to the highest standards.
R1,1 billion into programmes to improve stormwater quality for healthy waterways.
Partnerships and teamwork between stakeholders, including the City, residents, community groups, Western Cape Government’s Environmental Department, the National Department of Water and Sanitation and academia.

‘The City of Cape Town appreciates this award recognising the collaborative efforts to improve water quality in our rivers, vleis and estuaries. While much work has been done, so much more still needs to be done. This acknowledgement will be used to cheer on our teams who are working in various capacities to help Cape Town reach its goal of becoming a water sensitive City by 2040. The public can be assured that bettering the health of our waterways remains the City’s priority,’ said Councillor Mbandezi.

‘None of the larger capital interventions to rehabilitate our waterbodies will be meaningful unless we reduce pollution incidents, and more importantly are able to respond to these localised crises with speed and reliability. The ability to reliably respond to a pollution incident is the foundation on which we will be taking further steps to improve water quality for future generations,’ said Councillor Alex Lansdowne, chairperson of the Section 80 Advisory Committee: Water Quality in Wetlands and Waterways.

It is the second time the City’s Water and Sanitation has won an IRMSA award, previously it was for averting Day Zero.

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office

Water awards