Potsdam waste water treatment plant opens.

Water supplies in Cape Town have been given a boost following the opening of the refurbished Potsdam waste water treatment plant in late June. The facility in Milnerton, on the coast northeast of the city centre, is now expected to supply an additional 38 million litres of non-potable water to the Blauuwberg area for public and private irrigation purposes. It will also provide non-drinking water to the Milnerton golf course, Theo Marais sports fields, four schools in Milnerton and Table View, public open spaces and the Table View waterfront. It is hoped that the new plant will go some way towards alleviating the recent water shortages in the city. Speaking at the Potsdam opening, mayoral committee member for trading services Lionel Roelf said that reusing treated effluent is the most cost-effective way of conserving and increasing water supplies.

The 19 million rand refurbishment has included the installation of two new pump stations and a new filtration plant. The new system will increase the treated effluent from 17 million to 24 million litres a day for agricultural use alone according to manager Anic Smit.