Cape Town faces faecal fracas over coastal discharge licences
The coastal discharge is an ongoing source of concern for many city stakeholders, among them water scientists and water sports enthusiasts
13 February 2023 - 13:09
byBobby Jordan
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
The department of forestry, fisheries and the environment has issued new permits allowing the City of Cape Town to discharge ‘preliminary treated’ sewage into the ocean at three sites. File picture: JEAN TRESFON
Sewage water discharge into the ocean around Cape Town poses no immediate threat to the environment and is common practice worldwide, the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment says.
This was in response to criticism — and a pending appeal — against the department’s issuing of coastal water discharge permits (CWDPs) for Hout Bay, Camps Bay and Green Point, where the city discharges sewerage that has undergone “preliminary treatment”, via outfall pipes situated out to sea.
The coastal discharge is an ongoing source of concern for many city stakeholders, among them water scientists and water sports enthusiasts who claim plumes of contaminated water pose a health risk.
ActionSA confirmed last week the party had met attorneys and would appeal against the granting of the permits, which are valid for a further five years.
However, the city and department insist marine impact assessments conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) show no “major risks” to human health.
“The findings of the above-mentioned study indicated there is no immediate ecological disaster or major risks to human health forthcoming as a result of the effluent discharged through the Cape Town outfalls,” said the department.
“The department also considered alternative options during the decision-making process. However, no other feasible options are available. The city cannot cease the operations of the waste water treatment works as the municipality has a constitutional responsibility to deliver water and sanitation services to its citizens.
“In granting the permits, the department made it conditional that the city must investigate ways to improve the quality of the effluent. It is important to note that the effluent discharged is not raw sewage but preliminary treated sewage.”
This is, however, disputed by independent filmmaker Mark Jackson, who produced a short documentary on the city’s coastal discharge.
“Fact is, you can't clean sewage water by running it through a sieve. That does nothing. It's either primary-treated in a settling tank [for starters] or it is raw sewage effluent. I believe the city knows that,” said Jackson. “The sooner the public knows the reality, the sooner we can start figuring out how to fix it.”
The city faces increasing scrutiny of its waste water treatment policies in light of an upsurge of sewerage spills linked to load-shedding and illegal dumping of waste. Several beaches were temporarily closed during the festive season, drawing attention to the problem.
The city has since announced a large budget increase to upgrade its waste water treatment facilities and limit outages due to load-shedding.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Cape Town faces faecal fracas over coastal discharge licences
The coastal discharge is an ongoing source of concern for many city stakeholders, among them water scientists and water sports enthusiasts
Sewage water discharge into the ocean around Cape Town poses no immediate threat to the environment and is common practice worldwide, the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment says.
This was in response to criticism — and a pending appeal — against the department’s issuing of coastal water discharge permits (CWDPs) for Hout Bay, Camps Bay and Green Point, where the city discharges sewerage that has undergone “preliminary treatment”, via outfall pipes situated out to sea.
The coastal discharge is an ongoing source of concern for many city stakeholders, among them water scientists and water sports enthusiasts who claim plumes of contaminated water pose a health risk.
ActionSA confirmed last week the party had met attorneys and would appeal against the granting of the permits, which are valid for a further five years.
However, the city and department insist marine impact assessments conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) show no “major risks” to human health.
“The findings of the above-mentioned study indicated there is no immediate ecological disaster or major risks to human health forthcoming as a result of the effluent discharged through the Cape Town outfalls,” said the department.
“The department also considered alternative options during the decision-making process. However, no other feasible options are available. The city cannot cease the operations of the waste water treatment works as the municipality has a constitutional responsibility to deliver water and sanitation services to its citizens.
“In granting the permits, the department made it conditional that the city must investigate ways to improve the quality of the effluent. It is important to note that the effluent discharged is not raw sewage but preliminary treated sewage.”
This is, however, disputed by independent filmmaker Mark Jackson, who produced a short documentary on the city’s coastal discharge.
“Fact is, you can't clean sewage water by running it through a sieve. That does nothing. It's either primary-treated in a settling tank [for starters] or it is raw sewage effluent. I believe the city knows that,” said Jackson. “The sooner the public knows the reality, the sooner we can start figuring out how to fix it.”
The city faces increasing scrutiny of its waste water treatment policies in light of an upsurge of sewerage spills linked to load-shedding and illegal dumping of waste. Several beaches were temporarily closed during the festive season, drawing attention to the problem.
The city has since announced a large budget increase to upgrade its waste water treatment facilities and limit outages due to load-shedding.
TimesLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Cape Town sewerage crisis: developers look to private plants
Government monitoring supply of chlorine for water treatment
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.