The City of Cape Town is implementing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for temporary wastewater packaged plants for areas draining into the Potsdam, Zandvliet and Macassar wastewater treatment works (WWTWs).

The aim of the standard procedure is to facilitate sustainable development in areas where the City’s wastewater treatment capacity is constrained and create a clear and transparent process.

This will provide clarity and certainty to the development community and better enable them to proceed with investments.

“While capacity upgrades are under way at the Potsdam, Zandvliet and Macassar WWTWs, it is necessary to ensure sustainable development in suburbs falling within the drainage areas for these three plants,” the City of Cape Town said in a statement on Thursday.

The City’s developed SOP outlines the process to receive, assess and finalise development applications.

To apply to make use of the temporary package, a developer or built environment professional needs to contact one of the City’s Development Management district offices, which will trigger a pre-application consultation with the City, with city officials guiding the applicant on the process.

The application is evaluated, which includes public participation, and where a temporary package plant is recommended, the City issues an endorsement letter supporting the temporary package plant.

The applicant will enter into a Water Services Intermediary agreement with the City to establish and ensure compliance monitoring.

The City of Cape Town notes that the developer should apply to external authorities for water use and environmental approvals separately with respect to the temporary package plant.

The water use and environmental approvals will be part of the requirements to obtain the City’s clearance for property transfer after which the packaged plant can then be used.

At the end of the agreement period when the City of Cape Town’s wastewater capacity is available, the temporary packaged plant will be decommissioned and sewage can be discharged normally through the City’s sewer network.

“As this is a pioneering initiative within the City, we will facilitate the contact both nationally and provincially to fast-track approvals. Furthermore, the City will support the process and be part of any inspections and handovers throughout the process,” the City of Cape Town concludes.