The proposed site location for the Paarden Eiland Desalination Plant.
As the City of Cape Town embarks on yet another proposed desalination plant idea, this time a R5 billion project in Paarden Eiland, concerns have been raised among residents and political parties due to potential implications for water tariffs.
This comes as prior desalination plants in Strandfontein and Monwabisi, which have since been decommissioned, “provided the City with insight into the operations of a massive project in the future,” the City said.
City Mayco Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, said the Paarden Eiland project is currently in the preparation phase, with water delivery anticipated in the mid-2030s.
He said the plant aims to diversify water sources, including water re-use, desalination, clearing invasive species and groundwater extraction, to add 300 million litres of water per day to Cape Town’s supply.
