Local residents and environmentalists can look forward to the next Milnerton Lagoon quarterly feedback meeting tonight (Wednesday 13 September) to get the latest updates on initiatives under way to help improve its water quality.
Previously, updates were provided on the effective short-term solutions that were implemented by the City, which are already showing significant improvements in effluent quality at the Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) and water-pollution mitigation measures in place, such as the installation of litter traps.
The pollution at the lagoon has been a problem for many years, but environmental organisations together with the City of Cape Town are looking for ways to rectify the issue.
In the coming years the City aims to restore the lagoon environment through multi-billion rand sewerage and storm water infrastructure upgrades, coupled with on-the-ground pollution mitigation measures.
Three of these major infrastructure upgrades are already under way: the R5,2 billion Potsdam WWTW Upgrade, R430 million on Montague Gardens Bulk Sewer Rehabilitation and R118 million invested in the Koeberg Pump Station upgrade.
“The City of Cape Town is fully committed to restoring the quality and health of Milnerton Lagoon,” says the City’s Mayco member for water and sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, “and has devised a comprehensive action plan to achieve this goal. The plan encompasses short-term interventions as well as long-term strategies to address urban pollution in the lagoon.
“These efforts are led by the Water and Sanitation Directorate alongside the City’s Spatial Planning and Environment Directorate. We encourage residents living near and around this area to come to our next public meeting to get the latest updates on the progress of various interventions first-hand.”
Highlights of previous meeting
Sandbags have been placed at the Erica Road Outfall to create a barrier between pollution and the lagoon. This also limits the volume of lagoon water being pumped to Potsdam, which is currently functioning at capacity despite undergoing major upgrades, and protects the lagoon from untreated sewage. Other updates include:
- The City is also installing litter traps on identified stormwater outfalls in Milnerton, Royal Ascott, Joe Slovo and Phoenix. These capture solid waste before it enters the natural system, to reduce pollution in the lagoon.
- It has been determined that the source of the odour in the area is excessive accumulation of particulate organic matter in sediment, which causes bacteria to generate hydrogen sulphide. Managing this matter and introducing oxygen-rich water to the lagoon are among the priorities to be addressed in the strategic plan.
- Interim-waste interceptors in the Diep, Black and Salt rivers as well as the Jakkelsvlei Canal will assist, coupled with constructing the Erica Road outfall low-flow diversion and correcting cross-connections created by residents from stormwater and sewer pipes.
- The City has also undertaken a process of conducting a bioremediation trial to understand the effectiveness of using bio-enzymes to remediate sewer spills and ambient water. This could become valuable in dealing with pollution at its source. The next phase of this intervention is the field-based mesocosm efficacy test.
“The ultimate objective is to close pollution sources to Milnerton Lagoon off steadily over time and gradually work towards the ambitious goal of dredging the water body to remove decades-long build-up of pollution,” Badroodien said. “The City is committed to monitoring work being undertaken by consultants diligently, to ensure timely and efficient implementation of all feasible interventions.”
Next meeting
The City urges the community and any stakeholders to help it find a solution to Milnerton Lagoon pollution.
Residents are encouraged to submit comments in writing to enviro@capetown.gov.za
They are invited to the quarterly stakeholder engagement meeting tonight (13 September), 18:00-21:00 at the Leibrandt van Niekerk Community Centre, Table View, with its Environmental Remediation Study focus.
