City of Cape Town urged to act fast on sewerage upgrades to prevent disease outbreaks

CAPE TOWN - An epidemiologist has warned the City of Cape Town to act with urgency in upgrading its sewerage infrastructure to avoid a public health emergency.  

The city has allocated R1.25 billion of its R4.9 billion water and sanitation budget to upgrade Cape Town's ailing sewerage network.

This follows ongoing concerns about sewage overflows in various areas around the city.

Associate Professor for Epidemiology at UCT Dvora Davey said sewage contaminated water can transmit a variety of diseases.

"In sewage contaminated water there is bacteria, viruses and parasites and these pathogens cause gastro-intestinal illness, skin infection and even life-threatening conditions like hepatitis."  

In a bid to address these concerns, Mayco member for water and sanitation Zahid Badroodien says sewerage upgrades throughout Cape Town are being planned.

"And so I'm excited about major projects like the Cape Flats rehabilitation of our sewer pipeline, the rehabilitation of bulk sewers in Milnerton, in Philippi."  

Badroodien said other projects include upgrades to Koeberg, Rappenberg and Langa pump stations.