Council has approved three tender contracts awarded to upgrade the Athlone and Bellville Wastewater Treatment Works over the next five years, which will boost treated effluent quality and energy efficiency at these facilities. These five-year contracts represent further progress towards better sanitation for all and enhanced treated effluent quality for environmental sustainability.
 Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs) perform the critical function of treating sewage/wastewater coming from homes, businesses and industries (referred to as influent) before releasing this as effluent into the environment via our waterways.
 Over the next five years, the City is estimated to invest more than R460 million into the Athlone and Bellville Wastewater Treatment Works specifically for these contracts, subject to economic conditions.
- Athlone WWTW upgrade
This contract is for the design and building of mechanical and electrical works to refurbish the C-works at this plant. This work alone is estimated to cost more than R340 million over the next five years.
The new aeration blowers and diffusers will be more efficient and use less electricity than the existing aeration system. The reconfiguration of the recycle pumps will ensure that the biological reactors are optimised in removing the increased nitrogen loads, which have increased since the treatment plant’s inception.
This work forms part of a total approximate R5 billion upgrade of the Athlone WWTW that is currently scheduled to start around 2026/2027 depending on budget availability.
This total upgrade will increase Athlone WWTW’s capacity from treating 105 million litres of wastewater each day to 150 million litres, as well as refurbish the existing treatment module. Provision will also be made for possible further capacity extensions up to a maximum capacity of 175 million litres per day when required in future.
- Bellville WWTW Diffused Aeration (DA) plant reactor upgrade
Two contracts have been awarded for work on this project. This is the last phase of the Diffused Aeration upgrade at Bellville WWTW.
- The contract for the design and build of mechanical and electrical workis estimated to cost more than R80 million over the next five years.
This will ensure that the existing works are kept operational and enhance the quality of treated effluent. The scope of works is not limited to but includes the refurbishing and changing the configuration of the reactors, upgrading the diffused aeration equipment, and refurbishing instrumentation to monitor the process more efficiently.
- The contract for the civil works to upgrade the biological reactorsat this diffused aeration plant is estimated to cost more than R40 million.
The scope of work is not limited to but includes refurbishing and reconfiguring the biological reactors and associated equipment in a staggered manner. The reactors will be reconstructed to an advanced configuration for enhanced biological nutrient removal, to improve the effluent quality of the Diffused Aeration Plant.
‘The City is projecting to invest a minimum of R8 billion investment for major WWTWs upgrades over the next 10 years. This is a critical investment into key infrastructure towards ensuring improved environmental health of the receiving water body.
‘Upgrades at wastewater treatment plants are complex in nature and can span years, from planning to completion, so every milestone reached is worth celebrating. We are pleased that due process has been followed and these contracts have been awarded so now the next phase in the journey for these facilities can begin. The Water and Sanitation Directorate is one step closer to enhancing the treated quality effluent which remains a top priority for the City, while working to ensure that these WWTWs are more energy-efficient, which is particularly important in light of load-shedding.
‘We look forward to more progress over the coming months as work on these projects continue,’ said Councillor Mbandezi.
