Wednesday, 18 March 2026

Cape Town’s long-running debate over sewage discharged into the ocean has returned to the spotlight as a delayed environmental appeal raises fresh questions about marine pollution along the city’s coastline. Critics say billions of litres of wastewater continue to enter the Atlantic while the licensing dispute remains unresolved, intensifying scrutiny of the city’s marine outfall system.

Pressure is mounting on the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to conclude an appeal challenging licences that allow the City of Cape Town to release wastewater through its offshore marine outfall pipelines.

The appeal was originally lodged in February 2023 and targets permits granted for three of the city’s marine outfall systems located at Green Point, Camps Bay and Hout Bay. These pipelines carry screened wastewater several kilometres out to sea before it is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean.

Political party ActionSA has renewed calls for the matter to be finalised, arguing that the delay allows large volumes of wastewater to continue entering the ocean while the licensing conditions remain under dispute.

According to the party, at least 2.4 billion litres of raw sewage have been pumped into Cape Town’s oceans in the past three months alone while the appeal process remains unresolved.

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said the delay in resolving the appeal raises broader environmental and governance concerns. He argues that stricter licensing conditions should apply to the city’s outfall operations and that regulators must ensure stronger oversight of how wastewater is discharged into coastal waters.

Marine outfalls have been used in Cape Town for more than a century. The system operates by pumping screened wastewater through offshore pipelines where it is released into deep ocean currents, a method historically considered a practical solution for coastal cities with limited space for additional land based treatment infrastructure.

However, environmental groups have increasingly questioned whether the system remains appropriate for a growing metropolitan area.

Campaign organisations such as Rethink the Stink have repeatedly warned that sewage pollution entering rivers, canals and stormwater systems across the city is contributing to declining water quality in wetlands, lagoons and coastal environments.

Activists say the problem often begins far upstream. Sewer blockages caused by items such as wet wipes, nappies and sanitary products can lead to overflows that eventually enter stormwater systems and flow into rivers and the ocean.

These pollution sources can carry nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorus, which may remain in water systems long after bacterial levels decline. Scientists say such nutrients can contribute to harmful algal blooms that disrupt aquatic ecosystems.

One recent example was the prolonged closure of Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve after toxic cyanobacterial blooms pushed microcystin levels into the very high risk category.

The Diep River catchment, which feeds Milnerton Lagoon, has also faced ongoing water quality concerns linked to pollution across the broader catchment area.

City officials say the situation is complex and involves multiple pollution sources across a large geographical area.

Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, said improving water quality in the Diep River system requires coordinated action from government agencies, industries and residents.

He noted that the city is implementing several interventions to address pollution entering waterways, including sewer maintenance programmes, infrastructure upgrades and plans to dredge contaminated sediment that has accumulated over decades.

Badroodien added that behaviour change also plays an important role, pointing out that illegal dumping and improper disposal of waste into sewer systems continue to contribute to blockages and spills.

City officials maintain that Cape Town’s coastal water quality remains high overall.

Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment Eddie Andrews said monitoring data shows strong compliance with national recreational water quality standards.

Between December 1, 2025 and March 6, 2026, the city collected 1,454 coastal water samples, averaging around 24 samples per day. According to the city, compliance levels during that period exceeded 98 percent.

Andrews acknowledged that occasional sewer overflow incidents do occur but said these are generally resolved quickly. He cited three incidents at Melkbosstrand between late February and early March, which were linked to a blocked sewer pipe and maintenance issues at a pump station.

Those incidents were addressed and the affected areas were cleaned and disinfected, he said.

Despite the city’s assurances, environmental campaigners argue that the broader debate around marine outfalls is far from settled.

They say the unresolved appeal highlights the need for clearer national policy on how coastal cities manage wastewater and protect marine ecosystems.

For now, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment says questions about the appeal have been referred to its provincial office.

Until the decision is finalised, Cape Town’s marine outfall system continues to operate under existing licences, leaving the wider environmental and regulatory debate unresolved.

Source: GroundUp – Matthew Hirsch