- The Rylands Sports Complex is the latest facility to be connected to Cape Town’s treated effluent irrigation system, contributing to saving 2.5 to 3.5 million litres of drinking water daily across 120 City facilities.
- The City will invest R65 million in expanding treated effluent infrastructure, including upgrades to key pump stations and pipelines, aimed at enhancing water conservation.
- Treated effluent is significantly cheaper than potable water, costing R7.62 per kl for recreational use, and offers a sustainable solution for irrigation and industrial purposes in Cape Town.
The Rylands Sports Complex is the latest of around 120 facilities irrigated with treated effluent, with more expected to be connected over the next few weeks.
An estimated 2,5 million to 3,5 million litres of drinking water will be saved daily, as treated effluent connections are commissioned at a number of City Recreation and Parks facilities for irrigation across Cape Town.
Using treated effluent for irrigation and industrial purposes is an excellent way to help conserve Cape Town’s water supply, and to save on costs.
Treated effluent is wastewater that has been purified at a treatment works, where contaminants are removed before it is safely reused for irrigation and industrial purposes.
With a pipeline network extending almost 283 km, treated effluent is being supplied from nine City wastewater-treatment plants: Athlone, Bellville, Cape Flats, Kraaifontein, Macassar, Potsdam, Scottsdene, Zandvliet and Melkbosstrand.
“The City will invest R65 million in increasing treated effluent infrastructure during the 2024-’25 financial year,” said Mayco member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien.
“This includes the upgrade of Bellville Pump Station and the pipeline to supply to Kuils River, the new Scottsdene Pump Station and Phase 1 of its pipeline, and the new Zandvliet Pump Station.
As part of the ongoing roll-out, the Recreation and Parks Department, in collaboration with the Water and Sanitation Directorate, entered into a formal agreement to switch to using treated effluent for irrigation of City-owned sports fields and other recreation facilities. There are now 120 facilities connected to the treated effluent-supply system, with more earmarked to offset the use of drinking water.
In October, treated effluent supply to the Chukker Road Sports Field (Phase A), Wens Road Park, City Park (private sports field), William Herbert Sports Field, Brochurst Park and Bellville Compost Plant was activated.
Construction works are underway to supply treated effluent for irrigation to Athlone Cricket Field (fields 1 and 2), Wynberg Sports Ground, Rylands Sports Complex and Chukker Road Sports Field by the end of this financial year.
“As the City drives initiatives for infrastructural development that support our vision of becoming a water-resilient city, we encourage more private business and industries to take this win-win opportunity up,” said Badroodien.
“Treated effluent costs much less, and one can help conserve valuable drinking water when making the switch for purposes of irrigation or industrial processes.
Treated effluent is available at R7,62 per kl for golf clubs, schools and park facilities, and R8,71 per kl for commercial and industrial use.
This is a fraction of the potable water tariff, at R35,07 per kl for commercial, industrial and educational institutions.
To apply for treated effluent supply and for more info, email: Treated.Effluent@capetown.gov.za, or visit bit.ly/4aqmH9k
