[Image: StockCake]
The City of Cape Town aims to construct a permanent desalination plant in Paarden Eiland in 2026. If the plan receives all the necessary regulatory approvals, it should be operational by 2030.
This initiative is part of the City’s larger New Water Programme (NWP), which focuses on strengthening water security to handle climate shocks and seasonal droughts.
Desalination, which removes salts and impurities from seawater to make it drinkable, has become a key part of Cape Town’s strategy for long-term water security. With climate change, unpredictable rainfall, and a fast-growing population, CoCT says the desalination plant is a crucial part of the city’s Water Strategy to diversify its drinking water sources.
According to the CoCT’s Water and Sanitation MMC Zahid Badroodien, a feasibility study on the proposed Paarden Island desalination plant is being undertaken by a “suitably qualified transaction advisory team appointed through National Treasury’s Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC)”.
The study will look into the best options for building, funding, and running the proposed desalination facility. Once the feasibility study is done, they’ll decide on the best way to move forward, according to Badroodien.
The 22,000 m² seawater reverse-osmosis plant will draw water from the ocean to supply Cape Town households. The estimated capital cost is around R5 billion (excluding VAT and escalation as of June 2023).
According to Badroodien, the project will be funded through the water tariff and is expected to produce 50 to 70 million litres of water daily, with operations planned to start in 2030.
Overall, the CoCT plans to add an extra 300 million litres of water a day from various sources, including desalination, water reuse, groundwater and the clearing of alien invasive species. These efforts are supported by Cape Town’s largest-ever capital expenditure (CAPEX) allocation for Water and Sanitation.
“We are future-proofing our city by investing in infrastructure at a rate far outpacing any other metro,” said Badroodien. “Over the next three years, we will invest R43 billion—more than Johannesburg and Durban combined. Water and Sanitation now accounts for 42% of Cape Town’s R120 billion, 10-year infrastructure pipeline.”
According to Badroodien, an independent advisory panel of 12 international and local desalination experts—including scientists, engineers, and public health and social science practitioners—has been set up to help Cape Town make informed decisions about building a permanent seawater desalination plant.
At the recent Energy Water Waste Forum (EWWF), industry experts showcased innovations in desalination technology, while City officials stressed the importance of public engagement to build trust and address everyone’s concerns before implementation.
“Our Water and Sanitation teams are working hard to make sure that desalination and other measures benefit both residents and businesses in Cape Town,” added Badroodien.
“By leveraging on a diverse pool of expertise and exploring all feasible options for implementation, we are confident that Cape Town will establish quality technologies in water treatment from diverse sources, which meet safety, technical and regulatory standards.”
By focusing on sustainable water solutions, the City aims to ensure a reliable water supply for future generations and establish itself as a leader in infrastructure investment.
[Sources: Cape {town} Etc & Engineering News]