Potsdam Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant

Communities residing in suburbs and informal settlements along the Diep River, Table Bay Nature Reserve, and Milnerton Lagoon can anticipate a breath of relief as a result of the forthcoming enhancement to the Potsdam Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant. This progressive initiative is poised to significantly ameliorate the purification of heavily polluted water bodies by bolstering the capabilities of the aging waste water treatment works (WWTW) situated in Milnerton.

Local residents have been enduring the distressing reality of severely contaminated water bodies, rendering them unsuitable for human consumption and agricultural utilization. Furthermore, recreational activities such as sailing, swimming, and fishing have been severely curtailed. In response to mounting concerns, the Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning conducted an assessment in 2020, revealing alarming levels of ammonia nitrogen, phosphate, suspended solids, and pathogenic Escherichia coli bacteria in the water.

The focal point of these concerns was identified as the Potsdam Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant, which had become insufficient in catering to the burgeoning urban population. Consequently, it was discharging polluted water into the Atlantic Ocean, near Cape Town Harbour. The City of Cape Town, in its commitment to sustainable development, subsequently enlisted the expertise of Bigen to oversee the expansion and modernization of the Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant. This project will culminate in the transformation of a prevailing environmental challenge into a valuable source of clean water, particularly crucial during periods of drought.

Simultaneously, it will generate a tangible financial asset for the municipality. By elevating the treatment capacity of the facility to 100Ml/d, coupled with upgrades to the filtration and disinfection systems, the deleterious impact of pollution on local flora and fauna will be substantially curtailed. Moreover, this augmentation will diminish the necessity for importing freshwater, while ensuring that the effluent attains the requisite quality for both irrigation and industrial reutilization, bolstering the region’s resilience to drought. As the City of Cape Town capitalizes on augmented revenue from the sale of treated wastewater, the Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant will evolve into a benchmark facility for agricultural reuse and cost-effective wastewater management. Embracing Bigen’s core ethos of “doing good while doing business,” this endeavor will yield lasting advantages for local communities, characterized by the creation of new job opportunities, both during and post the project’s implementation