The Umhlanga Ratepayers and Residents Association (URRA) hoped that the R60 million refurbishment of the Umhlanga Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) would be done efficiently and competently.
Work began last week to refurbish the April 2022 storm-damaged WWTW.
eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, said the scope of work entails a rehabilitation and functional upgrade of critical infrastructure within the treatment works, including mechanical, electrical, civil, and structural elements.
She said key interventions include refurbishing the inlet works, aeration basins, clarifiers, sludge handling pumping systems, electrical works, instrumentation, and the chlorination system.
“The improvements will assist to restore operational efficiency at the works for the treatment of sewage. The works will be able to receive an apportionment of wastewater from the Umhlanga catchment for treatment,” Sisilana said.
eThekwini Ward 35 Councillor Bradley Singh confirmed that the multimillion-rand upgrade to the WWTW is finally under way, despite a four-month delay in starting the project.
Singh explained that the April 2022 floods severely damaged one of the facility’s main purifiers, forcing its complete shutdown.
He added that since 2022, the WWTW plant has been operating on a single treatment unit, which also failed two weeks ago.
“The department temporarily restored operations using generators, but the system is under immense strain. The upgrade will not only restore full capacity but also expand the plant’s ability to handle increasing waste volumes as Durban’s northern areas continue to develop,” Singh explained.
The Shellborne pump station directs wastewater from La Lucia, Homeford, Shellborne, Armstrong Avenue, and Whalebone Pier to the Umhlanga plant.
Singh explained that with one purifier out of service, excess sewage had to be diverted to the Phoenix plant. He said this temporary solution failed to address long-term risks.
“Residents have borne the brunt of the crisis, with frequent sewage spills leading to repeated closures of Umhlanga’s beaches. The foul odour and health hazards have sparked widespread complaints, underscoring the urgent need for a permanent solution,” Singh said.
Terry MacLarty, chairperson of the URRA, said they were delighted that eThekwini is finally undertaking this repair, which was long overdue.
MacLarty said the URRA has been campaigning to get the work done to prevent the overflowing sewage lines and the E. coli contamination of the ocean for years.
“This repair is critical to restore our attraction to visitors, which has taken a huge knock as a result of beach closures, resulting from the failure of infrastructure. Umhlanga is a major contributor to the rates of eThekwini, and the restoration of our tourism will make a huge difference to the economy of our area. We are hopeful that this repair work will be done efficiently and competently and will be completed as soon as possible,” MacLarty said.
