The Council-approved Adjustment Budget for 2021/2022 has reallocated budget to boost priority water and sanitation services to our residents. This budget underscores the City’s commitment to tackling sewer-related matters and ensuring investment for continuous reliable drinking water supply.
Key projects that have been prioritised in the Adjustment Capital Budget includes the following:
- Cape Flats Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) will benefit from an additional R23 million investment.
- R30 million for the procurement of additional new vehicles for fleet expansion. This includes: six 10 ton tipper with crane and grab, four combination (vacuum and jet combined) units, jet trucks and one vacuum tanker, and six water tankers. The water tankers will help provide drinking water to communities when needed, while the other vehicles will help deal with clearing sewer blockages.
- R20 million budget increase for pump stations to ensure these facilities receive necessary security upgrades and replacement of electrical components.
- R41 million to replace additional sewer and water pipes.
On the Adjustment Operating Budget, the City has focused on the sewer spill reduction plan in particular prioritising the proactive maintenance that includes sewer line jetting and over-pumping. An additional amount of approximately R152 million was allocated for this purpose in this specific Adjustment Budget.
‘This prioritised operating budget and new jet trucks/combination units in particular will help us tackle the high level of foreign objects that end up in our sewers. By allocating these extra resources the City hopes to demonstrate that this is a very important issue, but residents should keep in mind that sewer blockages in hotspot areas are unfortunately likely to continue until all of us take more care of what we flush, pour down our drains and put into manholes.
‘The directorate’s projects are multi-billion rand in nature and often stretch across multiple financial years. The City’s Adjustment Budget allows the City to reallocate budget provision within the current financial year to address urgent needs emerging on the ground.
‘The projects are guided by the City’s Water Strategy and our goal to become a Water Sensitive City. This requires us to invest in every section of this value chain, from supply dams to the coast, and ensure that we do our part to protect the dignity of our residents,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.