Sewerage upgrade for J’Bay

PHOTO: Kouga Executive Mayor Booi Koerat (front) and Infrastructure portfolio councillor Patrick Kota (second right) were at the handover of the site.

 Sewerage upgrade for J’Bay

 MORE than R40-million is being pumped into upgrading the sewerage infrastructure of Jeffreys Bay.

Kouga Executive Mayor Booi Koerat said a new activated sludge plant was being built to replace the old sewerage treatment plant.

“The original works was constructed for the old town and a small portion of Pellsrus only,” he explained. “It has been upgraded periodically to create additional capacity, but this has not been enough to accommodate the increase in flow.”

He said the increase in flow was due both to the eradication of the bucket and pit latrine systems in previously disadvantaged areas, as well as the boom in private developments.

The new plant will have a capacity of 5Ml/day, with the alternative to upgrade the existing ponds as well. This will bring the total capacity to 8Ml/day.

The municipality also recently upgraded the sewerage pump station near Dolphin Beach.

“The old pumps have been refurbished and two new submersible pumps have been installed as back-ups,” the mayor said. “Our new computer control system will help prevent the pumps from overheating and burning out while staff will be monitoring the pump station around the clock so that problems can be addressed immediately.”

He said this pump station, as well as other J’Bay pump stations, have further been registered for Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funding.

“Jeffreys Bay has grown tremendously over the past 15 years, placing the infrastructure under pressure. The new Council is confident, however, that we will find solutions to these challenges.”