The public has until Monday March 3 to comment on the on the proposal to implement and operate the City’s first permanent desalination plant in Paarden Eiland through an external mechanism.

The proposal is part of the City’s City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate’s feasibility study, which is encouraging public comment on the practicality of using a suitable external service delivery mechanism to implement and operate the planned Paarden Eiland Desalination Plant.

Desalination is a scientific process of removing salts from sea water, then processing it further to make it suitable and safe for human consumption.

In a statement, the City said in the face of climate change, unpredictable rainfall and a growing population, this proposed plant forms part of the City’s various water augmentation projects in the City's New Water Programme (NWP) and Water Strategy, which aims to diversify drinking water supply resources and build a resilient future supply.

The planned permanent desalination plant is expected to produce between 50 and 70 million litres of water per day.

Overall, the Water Strategy aims to increase the city’s water supply by an additional 300 million litres from diversified sources.

Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, said it was important for the City to give the public a fair chance to provide their considered, informed inputs on matters matters.

“We encourage residents and stakeholders to submit their comments. All feedback will be incorporated in the final, completed feasibility study report, which will be made available to the community for comments before it is submitted to Council for their consideration.”

Residents and interested parties wanting to know more can attend the following information sessions:

Wednesday, February 12 at the Council Chambers, 6th Floor, Civic Centre, 12 Hertzog Boulevard from 6pm to 8pm or r virtually via Microsoft Teams at https://bit.ly/4ghqlDY
Wednesday February 19 at Auditorium, Milnerton Library, Pienaar Road, Milnerton from 6pm to 8pm or via Microsoft Teams at https://bit.ly/40OcMXV

Comments can be submitted by delivering them to a subcouncil office near you, or via email at public.participation@capetown.gov.za

They can also be submitted online at www.capetown.gov.za/collaborate

For more information and general enquires, email: public.participation@capetown.gov.za or call 0800 212 176

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