The City of Cape Town alongside industry leaders and experts hosted Energy Water Waste Forum. The event focuses on the New Water Programme and implementation of desalination in Cape Town.
Considering the going direct engagement with stakeholders, the discussions were centred around the growing need to augment the drinking water supply of the city Cape Town with alternative sources in order to build resilience and security against seasonal droughts.
At present, the City of Cape Town is in feasibility study stage of its first permanent desalination plant. It is properly planned for the Paarden Eiland area. Desalination is a scientific process of removing salts from sea water which is then processed further to make it suitable and safe for human consumption.
Reportedly, the combination of initiatives will make the New Water Programme comprising desalination, water re-use, clearing of invasive plant species and groundwater schemes.
The project is a part of 2023 City of Cape Town strategy to increase drinking water supply by 300 million litres a day. The planned permanent desalination plant is expected to produce between 50 and 70 million litres of water per day.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien said that the Cape Town has already allocated the largest CAPEX budget to Water and Sanitation, making them one of the leading infrastructure investors in the country.
Councillor Badroodien exclaimed that they are future-proofing the city by investing in infrastructure at a rate far outpacing any other metro. In fact, over the next three years, they will invest R43 billion which is more than Joburg and Durban.
The Water and Sanitation investment now makes up 42% of Cape Town’s R120 billion 10-year infrastructure pipeline. “We are determined to see the New Water Programme, ensuring that our city remains resilient and ready for the challenges ahead,” said Badroodien.
At the EWWF event, Badroodien delivered the keynote address. This highlighted the importance of open conversations with the public to build trust.
He also informed the participants of the City Drive to create more platforms where concerns could be addressed well ahead of the implementation.
The industry experts presented on relevant topics on innovation in desalination technology and a guide to water resilience.
Desalination is a critical part of the action plan by City of Cape Town to provide increased demand for drinking water into the future that takes in consideration the threat of climate shocks and drought.
Water and Sanitation Councillor Zahid Badroodien stated that the teams are working hard to ensure the water provision is sustainable and the implementation of desalination benefits is for Cape Town residents and businesses.