CoCT mulls how to deal with millions of litres of raw sewage released into the ocean

CAPE TOWN - The City of Cape Town plans to deal with the 32 million litres of raw sewage it currently releases into the Atlantic Ocean every day.

This follows an ongoing public outcry after aerial images revealed huge plumes of sewage floating on the surface of the sea off the coast.

Last week, the city conducted a feasibility study to treat sewage to environmentally acceptable standards before pumping it out to sea.

Mayoral committee member for water and sanitation Zahid Badroodien said short, medium, and long-term options were being discussed with service providers.

"We right off the back of it recognise that there must be some form of improvement in the process with which we handle our marine outfalls, and that means that we must introduce some form of treatment in the process."

The city said a new wastewater treatment works to clean sewage or pipe it further out to sea or to other existing treatment works would cost between R2 billion and R8 billion.