[imagesource: Dr Zahid Badroodien/X]

The city of Cape Town has three marine outfall pipes pumping sewage that has passed through a screen to remove solids into the ocean some distance from land off Camps Bay, Hout Bay and Green Point.

There has been a failure at the pump station that discharges “partially treated” sewage into the ocean via an outfall pipe in Camps Bay, resulting in the temporary closure of Camps Bay beach.

The cause of the failure was still being investigated on Tuesday when the announcement was made, per Herald Live. Water and sanitation MMC Zahid Badroodien said that all overflows up to this point have been contained within the pump station itself, assuring that “There has been no overflow into surrounding roads or communities at present.”

“Teams are on site responding to the situation. The only option at present is to lower the overflow in the pump station by pumping across the beach into the ocean,” he said.

“Unfortunately, it is not possible to use suction trucks to lower the level due to [the] sheer volume of waste water.”

It is a sight for sore eyes:

Image: Dr Zahid Badroodien/X

Badroodien confirmed that part or all of the beach will be closed “depending on a number of factors that will determine this decision”.

“I will monitor this situation closely and ensure updates are issued to ensure as much transparency as possible regarding this situation.”

He said the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment had been notified. It is this department that has granted permits to the city to operate the marine outfall operations in these aforementioned three coastal areas. They have also conveniently said that sewage water discharge into the ocean posed no immediate threat to the environment and was common practice worldwide.

But SA Media like TimesLIVE have previously reported that the coastal discharge is an ongoing source of concern for many city stakeholders, like ocean conservationists, water scientists and water sports enthusiasts who claim plumes of contaminated water pose a health risk.

[source:heraldlive]