Cape Town is preparing pump station for summer season. The Water and Sanitation Directorate has intensified maintenance at its 487-sewer pump stations by including 102 along the coastline, to ensure reliable operations and clean, enjoyable beach days for residents and visitors.
Reportedly, this forms part of the multi-million-rand investment of the City of Cape Town to invest in the upgradation of these critical facilities over recent months.
The Water and Sanitation Directorate of the City of Cape Town manages 487 sewer pump stations across Cape Town and along the coast such as:
- Melkbosstrand,
- Big Bay,
- Sunset Beach,
- Milnerton,
- Atlantic Seaboard,
- Llandudno,
- Kommetjie,
- Simon’s Town,
- Fish Hoek/Kalk Bay,
- Mitchells Plain,
- Muizenberg,
- Strand and Gordon’s Bay
The City of Cape Town has invested approximately R176 million in upgrades to its pump station network, since July 2024. This includes installing screening facilities, procuring spare pumps and valves, upgrading Motor Control Centres (MCCs), and implementing other infrastructure improvements to strengthen reliability and resilience.
In preparation for summers, the pump station teams have intensified their maintenance efforts to ensure these facilities are operating effectively and creating a safe and enjoyable environment for communities and beachgoers across Cape Town.
These proactive initiatives include:
- Conducting daily inspections at all coastal pump stations from 1 November 2025 to clean wet wells and check for wear, damage, or leaks.
- Deploying standby teams for prompt after-hours emergency response.
- Increasing the frequency of wet well cleaning to handle higher summer flows.
- De-ragging of pumps and impellers weekly to prevent clogs.
- Servicing generators and inverters to ensure reliability during power outages.
Monitoring telemetry systems to detect unusual patterns or malfunctions early. Establishing a dedicated 24/7 Spill Mitigation Team to respond rapidly to incidents and minimise impacts on beach areas.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien said that Summers are the time when Cape Town shines, and they want the beaches and communities to experience that without interruptions.
The teams have been preparing for months to ensure the pump stations perform reliably, but they need everyone’s help. A simple act like not flushing wet wipes or pouring oil down the drain can prevent a spill and keep the city clean.
According to Badroodien, the residents and visitors can help in ensuring hassle-free beach days by disposing of waste correctly. Items like wet wipes, cooking oil, and sanitary products should never be flushed or poured down drains, as they cause blockages that can lead to sewer spills.