Cape Town: The Water and Sanitation Directorate of the City of Cape Town successfully hosted its second public meeting. It was based on the proposed permanent Desalination Plant, to be built in Paarden Eiland. The meeting was held at Milnerton Library on Wednesday, Feb 19, 2025.
The residents of the town have the time until Monday, Mar 03, 2025 to participate and submit their comments.
Reportedly, the City of Cape Town is exploring the feasibility of providing desalination drinking water through an external service delivery mechanism. The meeting was a part of the broader public participation process required under the Section 78 (3)(b) of the Municipal Services Act (MSA).
As per the sources, the project is a key component of the New Water Programme, as outlined Water Strategy (2019) of Cape Town. The strategy aims to diversify water supply sources as well as to build resilience in the face of climate change and population growth.
Considering this, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien said that the Water Security is a great responsibility that they carry to provide for the generations to come.
As per Badroodien, all input on the options is being reviewed for how best to finance, operate and implement desalination.
Notably, Cape Town is investing more in infrastructure than Johannesburg and Durban all together. Records says, the city has come up with a capital budget 91% larger than Joburg and 117% larger than eThekwini for over the next three years.
Furthermore, the Water and Sanitation sector represent 42% of the approximate R120 billion for 10-year infrastructure pipeline, funding critical projects from the New Water Programme that will produce 300 million litres of drinking water daily by 2030.
However, Cape Town is proactively securing its water future through innovative solutions that ensure resilience against the climate change and population growth, unlike the other metro cities.