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Oct 14, 2024

Camps Bay Beach now closed due to pump station issues

Update: 30 July, 5pm The team has worked efficiently to pump down the pump station in order to identify the cause of the failure. Currently, no waste water is being discharged into the surf zone.

Update: 30 July, 5pm

The team has worked efficiently to pump down the pump station in order to identify the cause of the failure. Currently, no waste water is being discharged into the surf zone.

Successful lowering of the overflow within the pump station revealed a loose flange on pump 1. This identification allowed for the pump to be isolated and for proper repair and maintenance to ensue. The repair is now in its final stages.

Pump 2 is currently in operation and the pump station has resumed its normal activity. The quick response from the team resulted in minimal environmental damage.

Water contact will remain temporarily restricted along stretches of the beach until water testing results are compliant. This is due to the earlier need to discharge into the surf zone.

City Health is set to take water samples to test the quality until it meets the National Water Quality Guidelines for safe recreational activity.

Lastly, the public’s cooperation amidst this issue is appreciated and information regarding when water contact can resume will be communicated in due course.

A failure at the Camps Bay marine outfall pump station has resulted in the closure of the beach, says Cape Town’s MMC for water and sanitation.

Also read: Philippi Clinic closed by City of Cape Town due to heavy flooding

Up until now, the pump station alone has contained all overflows and there hasn’t been any spillover onto nearby roads or towns.

Dr Zahid Badroodien says teams are currently on site. ‘The only option at present is to lower the overflow in the pump station by pumping across the beach into the ocean. This will by now have begun.’

He adds that part or whole of the beach will be closed, depending on several factors. ‘Unfortunately, it is not possible to use (…) suction trucks to lower level(s) due to [the] sheer volume of wastewater,’ he says.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment has been notified that a Section 30 notice as required by the National Environmental Management Act will be submitted.

The situation is being monitored and this is a developing story.

Also read:

Paarl Mediclinic Hospital emergency centre closed amidst severe weather

Picture: Joshua Kettle / Unsplash