Repair work at wastewater treatment works progressing, says City
The wastewater works were damaged during the 2022 floods, and repairs are being carried out in a R500 million refurbishment project which is expected to be completed in 2027.
THE eThekwini Municipality has given an update on the repair and restoration of the Northern Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) which they say is progressing well, with a ‘noticeable improvement of treated effluent (wastewater) being discharged’.
In December 2021, various roleplayers raised the alarm over a murky discharge flowing into the uMngeni River from the Northern Wastewater Treatment Works outfall pipe on Willowfield Crescent in Springfield Park.
Environmentalists have also sounded the alarm for the last few years over the high levels of E. coli found in the uMngeni River.
In 2022, the wastewater works, which receives domestic and industrial effluent, was damaged during the floods, which left the plant non-operational as the entire facility was submerged underwater.
Also read: Umgeni River still feeling the effect of 2022 floods
As a result, the City undertook minor emergency repairs to partially bring the plant online (operational) while major refurbishments were being prepared.
The contractor undertaking the major refurbishment commenced work earlier this year. The project cost is R500 million and is expected to be completed in 2027.
On Wednesday (July 31), eThekwini Water and Sanitation Unit sent Ednick Msweli to assess the progress of repairs.
“The plant is a hive of activity with the contractor working around the clock to ensure that effluent released from the plant aligns with water quality regulations and prevents contamination of the uMngeni River,” the City said in a statement.
“Some of the interventions that have been implemented to improve the quality of effluent and prevent contamination of the environment include dredging of maturation pond sludge. The facility employs a system of ponds for further treatment and polishing of the final effluent prior to its release into the river. There are five ponds with a total of four kilometres combined.”
Also read: Vandalism of Riverside pump station concerning, says councillor
Msweli added that the theft and vandalism of electrical equipment at nearby pump stations are the biggest challenges, which often result in the pump station overflowing into the river.
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