The City of Cape Town is continuing to monitor the water quality at the Rietvlei waterbody. Rietvlei remains temporarily closed to the public for recreational purposes, until water quality tests confirm it is safe for use.
The City’s monitoring of poor water quality at Rietvlei is showing that the heavy rainfall and stormwater ingress into sewers in recent weeks, and resultant sewage overflows, is likely behind continued elevated levels of E.coli in Rietvlei.
All water to Rietvlei is channelled via the Bayside Canal, which is likely to be impacted in the case of a sewer blockage, or stormwater ingress in surrounding areas or a fault at a pump station. The canal, like all water bodies in the City, is also susceptible to polluted urban runoff.
Rietvlei is not connected to the Diep River, except during large flood events, not experienced to-date for this year.
The City has been conducting regular water tests to monitor the water quality, and continues to investigate possible undiscovered pollution sources based on these results.
Read: Progress of the Ndlambe Emergency Bulk Water project
These investigation efforts include:
- Condition assessments of the infrastructure to determine irregularities, e.g damage or illegal cross connections needing attention
- Stormwater ingress to sewer inspections where there is suspicion of sewer system hydraulic overload during rainy seasons
- Ongoing random inspections of business premises to monitor compliance with the Stormwater Management By-law and the Wastewaster and Industrial Effluent By-law.
- Monitoring of stormwater outlets during wet and dry seasons draining into the Rietvlei.
- Conducting proactive inspections of other potential pollution sources.
City’s efforts in Rietvlei area include the following:
- Ongoing maintenance efforts are underway to help pump stations in the area cope with high volumes of stormwater and foreign objects. This includes new valves and an electrical control panel worth about R4,6 million at the Table View East pump station.
- A barrier wall was also constructed in mid-July to prevent the Table View West pump station from flooding during rainfall, as this lead to a breakdown and sewage overflows previously.
- Efforts to unblock sewers are ongoing.
- Table View East pump station will be upgraded at a cost of R30 million. This is part of the estimated R62 million long-term upgrade of the Table View bulk sewer, which includes the Table View West pump station, planned to be completed by 2028/29.
Residents are assured the health of waterways is a top strategic priority for the City under the new post-drought Water Strategy, which aims to transition Cape Town to a Water Sensitive city over the next two decades through a combination of major infrastructure investment and behaviour change.
Residents are reminded that sewers should only be used to dispose of human waste, toilet paper and grey water.
The City regrets the inconvenience caused to the public during this time, however the safety of water users is important, and as such, the water body will reopen as soon as the test results indicate it is safe to do so.
