V & A Waterfront Desalination Plant, Cape Town
INNOVATIVE AWARD
South Africa is among the world’ s 30 driest countries, with two-thirds of its land semi-arid and annual rainfall averaging just 420mm, less than half the global norm. In 2018, Cape Town faced the threat of‘ Day Zero’, when taps were projected to run dry. The crisis disrupted daily life, reduced tourism by 30 percent, and placed severe pressure on the economy.
To address long-term water scarcity, the V & A Waterfront invested in a seawater desalination plant, capable of producing 3.3 million litres of fresh water per day for the precinct. This reduces dependence on the city’ s municipal supply and enhances resilience against future droughts. The plant forms a key part of the Waterfront’ s broader sustainability strategy, which includes water-efficiency measures, energy reduction and waste management.
From an architectural and urban-design perspective, the plant is more than functional infrastructure. Its location within the high-profile mixed-use precinct allows it to blend into the urban landscape, while maintaining rigorous environmental management standards. Intake, treatment and brine-discharge systems are carefully designed to minimise ecological impact, and the facility is scalable to meet future demand.
The precinct’ s long-term sustainability commitment is broader still. The V & A has achieved a 40 % reduction in energy use, with a 2MW photovoltaic solar-panel installation generating around 1,640,000kWh annually. At the same time, a blackwater treatment plant and greywater reuse systems contribute to efficient water recycling and lower potable-water demand.
The plant also demonstrates how engineering and design can support climate adaptation. By securing a reliable water source internally, the Waterfront safeguards economic activity, supports tourism, and ensures the precinct can continue to operate sustainably even in times of drought.
This investment showcases the potential for infrastructure to be both practical and exemplary in design. It provides a model for future urban developments in water-stressed regions, demonstrating that sustainable innovation, careful planning and thoughtful design can converge to create resilient, future-ready cities.
Developer: V & A Waterfront Holdings Project Manager: Igual Project Managers Architect: Revel Fox & Partners Quantity Surveyor: RLB Pentad Civil Engineer: MHA Engineers Structural & Mechanical Engineeer: WSP Group Africa Electrical Engineer & Fire Consultant: Solution Station
SAPOA Awards 113