The City of Cape Town has announced that its Water and Sanitation Department’s first trial of new smoke testing technology has been a success.

Testing was conducted in several parts of the city under different conditions to determine the system’s efficacy. This technology will now be used to detect illegal or unsanctioned stormwater discharges into the sewerage system.

The introduction of the smoke testing technology represents a significant step forward for the City and is likely to result in significant savings for the ratepayer. Preliminary estimates indicate that maximum savings could be in the region of R36,5 million.

It was not previously possible to detect or pinpoint where ingress was taking place without canvassing a large number of properties. Now Water and Sanitation officials can simply walk down the street and note the location of these cross-connections based on the presence of plumes of smoke.

Where it is found that illegal or unsanctioned connections exist, the property owners will be provided with a compliance order to rectify the matter within a stipulated period, failing which a fine will be issued in terms of the City of Cape Town’s Wastewater By-law.

“Illegal connections are problematic in that, especially during wet weather, the presence of excess water can stretch the capacity of the City’s wastewater conveyance systems. Not only can this result in overflows, but the City’s wastewater treatment plants are being forced to process water that otherwise should not have been treated. Limiting the amount of water that is unnecessarily treated every year will improve the quality of effluent that enters the environment,” explains  the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg.