The City of Cape Town’s Water Resilience Plan is taking shape. The proposed site for a desalination plant at Cape Town Harbour, near Paarden Eiland, is currently being assessed so it can be prepared and evaluated for a 2km pipeline network to be connected into the city’s bulk water main.
It has been said that up to 50-million litres of water can be utilised each day from the plant once operational. That’s roughly 1/10 of the City’s proposed daily target of 500-million litres – which is off the mark by 102-million liters as per this week’s dam level readings update.
As the assessment takes place from this evening, 10 November at 10 pm, the City’s Water and Sanitation Management Department will be undertaking pipeline condition checks in preparation for the plant, forming part of emergency supply schemes.
Mayor Patricia de Lille explains: “This is a necessity to prepare and ensure that the water coming from the desalination plant can reach the bulk water system safely and securely. In order to do this, the City has to reduce the water pressure to some areas. We are doing everything possible on our side to ensure that the water-saving efforts of 51% of our water users have not gone to waste. Thank you Team Cape Town for saving. Please help us to get all water users on board to save while the City works on supply plans.”
Affected areas which may experience reduced water pressure will include Maitland, Parden Eiland, Cape Town Harbour (Transnet), Lower Woodstock, the Cape Town CBD and possibly Green Point and Sea Point.
Some affected areas will experience low water pressure for the duration of the operation. A water supply cut may occur only in an emergency or unforeseen situation.
Photography Courtesy