The roll-out of a R4 billion capital investment programme aimed at upgrading Athlone Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW), to improve its treated effluent quality and minimise odours emanating from the site, is well under way. The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate initiated the programme in 2022, scheduling the work in phases, starting with improvements to the aeration system, and is expected to be concluded by 2026.
Currently 25% of the first phase of the programme has been completed, with most of the new equipment required already delivered.
Phase 1:
During the previous 2023/24 financial year, the City invested R202 million towards upgrades of the facility, which included:
· Completion of a new blower house to enhance the aeration system, critical for maintaining the biological processes that treat wastewater.
· Replacing the aeration systems, mixers and recycle pumps is ongoing. Work on Reactor A has been completed, and Reactor B is in progress.
The upgrades to the aeration and disinfection systems are also crucial to ensuring that the effluent discharged into the Black River meets environmental standards.
Phase 2:
The next series of upgrades will see the plant’s capacity increased to serve more households through these key measures:
· The inflow system will be enhanced to improve the initial treatment of wastewater
· The disinfection facility will be refurbished to improve the final treatment stage, ensuring safer effluent discharge
· New odour control systems will be installed to significantly reduce the emission of gases, which will address the persistent issue of foul odours, which is a primary concern for nearby residents
· Upgrades to the de-watering systems which will help manage sludge more effectively, reducing the likelihood of odours and improving overall plant efficiency
‘Steady progress is being made towards completing the multi-billion rand upgrades to Athlone WWTW, while at the same time, ongoing repairs and maintenance continue to keep this vital plant operational. Once completed, the improved treated effluent quality and new aeration systems will result in better living conditions for residents in close proximity to the plant.
‘The City earmarked this facility for upgrades due to its ageing infrastructure and we are cognisant of the negative impact of the foul odours caused by sludge build-up. While the upgrades will take some time to fully implement, residents are reassured that operations are being closely monitored to keep project timelines on track.
‘The combined interventions are designed to ultimately minimise odours through improved sludge management and biological treatment processes,’ said Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.
