Push for plant upgrade
Mayco advocates R35m project to double Potsdam capacity
THE City’s mayoral committee has recommended that the council approve a multiyear project to more than double the current capacity of the Potsdam wastewater treatment plant, to cater for a growing population.
It is envisaged that over the next six years the plant’s current wastewater treatment capacity of 47 million litres a day will be expanded by 53million litres to total 100 million litres a day.
The tender for the services for the engineering designs in the capacity upgrade, estimated at about R35 million, had already been awarded and was currently going through a public participation process, as the project would span beyond three financial years, said the City.
Further tenders to complete the major capital infrastructure projects would be issued in later years and would cost an estimated R800m.
The treatment plant, which is situated off Koeberg Road in the Milnerton area, is important as its western boundary borders the Diep River, into which treated effluent is discharged.
The site is situated in the vicinity of the ecologically sensitive Rietvlei Nature Reserve and Milnerton Lagoon.
Environmental authorisation has already been granted for this capacity upgrade, which sets strict parameters to which the City must adhere.
Mayco member for informal settlements, water and waste services and energy Xanthea Limberg said this was an extremely important project which would ensure that the quality of water flowing out of the plant and into the environment was not degraded as a result of the growing volumes it needed to process.
“Expanding this facility is necessary in the interest of safeguarding public health and the environment.
“However, it will also support the growth and functions of certain economic sectors such as industry, agriculture, fisheries, and tourism,” Limberg said.
“Similarly, we are also set to embark on a capacity upgrade of our Zandvliet plant in the Macassar area, to ensure that we respond to rapid population growth and to ensure that public and environmental health is protected.
“It is important that we support growth in a responsible manner. The upgrading of this kind of infrastructure reflects our commitment to maintaining and growing a well-run City,” she added.
This will be the third capacity upgrade that the City has undertaken for this plant, with previous work having been done in 1997 and 2008.
The tender for the latest upgrade was advertised in March 2017 and it went through a public participation process, according to the City.