2 September 2008

Work has started on a new pipeline that will channel treated effluent water from the City of Cape Town’s Athlone Wastewater Treatment Works to surrounding areas.

"Despite Cape Town’s rapid growth in population and industrial expansion we have shown a significant 26% saving in water usage by the end of the last financial year on 30 June and the new pipeline will help us improve that figure," said Councillor Clive Justus, Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services.

"Five years ago the City implemented a programme to save water and, in June last year, we adopted a R759 million Water Demand Management Strategy to reduce unnecessary losses and wastage.

“The new pipeline will make available purified and treated sewage effluent which is of high quality and is eminently suitable for use for irrigation and by industry," Justus said. The treated effluent will be supplied for irrigation and in industrial processes where it is not necessary to use potable water.

It is currently distributed in the Durbanville farming area, to the Chevron oil refinery at Milnerton, Century City and local schools and sports fields. Interest has been expressed by the Grand West Casino, the Old Mutual complex, several factories in Epping, schools, sport fields and two golf courses along the route of the proposed pipelines

The initial supply will be approximately 21 million litres per month and the plant has ample capacity to further increase supply as more treated effluent users are linked to the network.

The project will cost R34m and will include the construction of a pump station for distribution, three pipelines, filter banks, electrical control panels and ponds to store the treated effluent.

Construction has already started on the first pipeline from Grand West towards Thornton Station thereafter following the Elsieskraal canal through Pinelands towards the N2.

A second pipeline will be constructed along Jan Smuts Drive in the direction of Sunrise Circle, turning off along Avonduur Road and crossing Forest Drive and then linking up with the Elsieskraal pipeline.

The third will be constructed parallel to the N2 in front of the old Athlone Power Station, through Langa and Bonteheuwel towards Epping Industria. It will be completed in March next year.

Source: Capetown.gov.za