PROJECT 23
All images supplied by Greenfields Plumbing
“ Proper, functioning sanitation is the difference between a life of struggle and a life of dignity”- Gordon Hill-Lewis, mayor of Cape Town.
The upgrade of Zandvliet Waste Water Treatment Works
Compiled by
Megan O’ Connor, with technical input from Richard Craig, Greenfields Plumbing
Recently, the City of Cape Town completed a R2-billion upgrade of the Zandvliet Waste Water Treatment Works( WWTW). Greenfields Plumbing was the appointed plumbing contractor for the project that has been in-the-works since 2014.
The Zandvliet upgrade in Khayelitsha, Western Cape is one of the city’ s largest infrastructure projects to date, providing improved sanitation for the many regions whose effluent it treats. Prior to the upgrade, the existing WWTW was overloaded, and was suffering from failing plant infrastructure – equipment and pipelines.
Urgent rehabilitation was needed to meet the ever-rising demands of the region, and the additional 18 million litres-per-day processing capacity provided by the upgrade was the solution. Further, the upgrade would ensure that high-quality treated effluent meets all licence requirements outlined by the National Department of Water and Sanitation.
The goal of the upgrade Greenfields Plumbing managing director Richard Craig outlined what the City of Cape Town’ s aim of the project was:“ Due to water scarcity at the time, the City of Cape Town invested heavily to improve available water quality and supply.” Considering the vast number of areas Zandvliet WWTW serves, the importance of the project is highlighted – Zandvliet treats the effluent of the southern parts of Kuils River, Delft, Blackheath, Blackheath Industria, Blue Downs, Eerste River, De Wijnlanden, Thembokwezi, Mxolisi Phetani and Khayelitsha.
“ Due to the new buildings, no old plumbing or piping stood in the way of the upgrade.”
January 2026 Volume 31 I Number 11 www. plumbingafrica. co. za