Cape Town: The Kraaifontein Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) is one of the 23 wastewater treatment works that are operated by the City of Cape Town. It has a maximum treatment capacity of 7 million litres per day and continues to produce treated effluent of high-quality standards.
Recently, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien visited the site of Kraaifontein and Durbanville, which provide services to these areas. There the service providers treated effluent processed at the Kraaifontein WWTW is of exceptional quality with an average compliance of 98% from July 2025 to December 2025.
Kraaifontein WWTW was first commissioned in 1974, and since then it has been in operation for 52 years and has undergone four major infrastructure upgrades in 1983, 1987, 2003 and 2013, when new inlet works were commissioned. Currently, the facility operates with two fine screens, two degritters, one biological reactor, three secondary settling tanks and a sludge dewatering facility and is staffed by 14 permanent employees.
The treatment process at Kraaifontein WWTW includes several key stages, such as:
- Inlet Works: Raw sewage enters the plant and is screened for solid parts, which are then removed, washed, compacted and released into a skip along with collected grit. The sewage flow then moves on to the next process.
- Activated Sludge System: The flow is pumped into a bioreactor and sub-divided into three distinct zones to ensure continuous mixing and treatment with the assistance of microorganisms.
- Secondary Settling Tanks: The secondary settling tanks separate the sludge and treated water mix into solids and treated water, by providing specific conditions for the solids to settle to the bottom of the tank while the treated water flows over weirs on the surface of the tanks. The final effluent (treated water) from the settling tanks is then pumped back to the bioreactor.
- Disinfection: Kills harmful (pathogenic or disease-causing) organisms. Disinfection at Kraaifontein is affected via maturation ponds as well as via chlorine dosing.
- Dewatering: Removing any minor solids from the treated effluent, using mechanical belts to compress the solids into a sludge, which is then removed.
- Maturation Ponds: Removing pathogens from the water via natural UV radiation from the sun as well as further polishing of the treated effluent. Six maturation ponds are provided at Kraaifontein. The overflow from pond No.6 flows directly to the chlorine contact channel.
- Chlorination: Chlorine chips are used for disinfection, and this is the final stage before the treated effluent is either pumped to the end users for irrigation purposes or discharged to the river.
During the visit, Councillor Badroodien highlighted the ongoing challenge posed by foreign objects that are entering the sewer system.
He further stated that it was an interesting visit to the Kraaifontein WWTW, particularly at the inlet works, where they continued to see foreign objects such as rags entering the system via pump stations.
Badroodien stated that, he would like to remind residents to refrain from flushing these items down toilets, as they place unnecessary strain on sewer infrastructure, pump stations and wastewater treatment works.
The City of Cape Town urges residents to dispose of waste responsibly to help in ensuring the efficient operation of wastewater treatment facilities and the continued protection of rivers and the environment.