The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is implementing a range of measures to prepare municipal infrastructure for increased stormwater inflow that comes with the winter season.
As part of efforts by the end of March, the City said it had cleared 281 kilometers of sewer pipelines. This, it said, exceeds its annual target of 200 kilometers.
“With more than R78 million allocated to proactively maintain sewer systems, the City’s teams have been hard at work throughout the year, ramping up efforts as the rainy season nears,” read a statement by the City.
Further efforts include cleaning, repairing, and upgrading various components of the network to lower the risk of overflows during the rainy months. The City said it will also continue educational campaigns to promote proper waste disposal.
“These initiatives aim to ensure that the City’s sewer pipelines, pump stations, and river systems are in optimal condition to handle the increased volume.”
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The City says it also made several infrastructure and operational investments to enhance service delivery, which include 23 new jet-vac trucks and eight new dedicated sewer response teams. It has also implemented the Reactive Incident Management Application (RIMA), a digital platform designed to enhance incident tracking and coordination.
In addition to working on the sewer network, the City also intends to clean and monitor engineered and natural waterways to prevent blockages and possible flooding.
Public advisory on manhole covers
The City has advised against the removal of manhole covers, a practice observed during previous winter rains. The City emphasizes that stormwater should be managed through the designated stormwater network.
“Overloading the sewer network can lead to significant overflows and environmental pollution. Residents are urged not to tamper with manhole covers under any circumstances.”
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