Repairs and maintenance of rivers, canals and waterways take place throughout the year across Cape Town, with operations intensifying ahead of the winter season. As part of the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate’s ongoing efforts to reduce flood risks and improve water quality during the rainy months, more than R85 million has been invested in 12 critical pre-winter readiness interventions across the metro.
Cape Town’s stormwater network includes canals, rivers, culverts, tributaries, wetlands, vleis, ponds and stormwater dams, all of which require ongoing maintenance throughout the year to ensure the system functions effectively during winter.
Ahead of the rainy season, maintenance operations have intensified with teams carrying out proactive cleaning of canals, litter traps, culverts, ponds and waterways to prevent blockages that can result in localised flooding.
A range of methods is used depending on site conditions, including the removal of vegetation (such as invasive aquatic plants), silt, and litter using hand teams, as well as dredging operations using excavators and bulldozers to remove accumulated sediment deposits and restore channel capacity.
‘Winter readiness operations are currently in full swing across Cape Town, with teams removing significant volumes of waste, vegetation and sediment from canals and stormwater infrastructure to improve drainage ahead of the rainy season.
‘Illegal dumping into canals and rivers has severe consequences for communities. Waste blocks stormwater infrastructure, increases flood risks for nearby homes and streets, and pollutes waterways and oceans downstream. Residents are urged to make use of refuse collection services and disposal facilities to help keep waterways clear and functional during winter,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
Central
Erosion protection works are currently under way at the Maitland Cemetery Canal, a tributary of the Elsieskraal River, using Armourflex blocks. This intervention is critical to prevent erosion of the stormwater channel and to safeguard surrounding infrastructure, including nearby graves.
Rehabilitation of a lined concrete channel, together with dredging works, is in progress from Sandown to Link Road and from Berkshire to Waterville in Bloubergstrand. The dredging removes accumulated silt and overgrown vegetation to improve flow capacity and reduce flood risk, while rehabilitation works extend the lifespan of the infrastructure.
Cutting, cleaning, and removal of alien vegetation, along with silt and litter clearing, has taken place from Sandown East to Parklands Main Road in Parklands. This ensures that the channel continues to function as designed and reduces the risk of blockages that could lead to flooding.
South
Reed and litter removal is being undertaken along the Little Lotus Canal in Fisherman’s Walk, Grassy Park. This preventative maintenance helps keep the waterway clear and reduces the risk of flooding during the rainy season.
Erosion control works were installed along the Brommersvlei River in Constantia, where gabions and Reno mattresses were installed. These measures prevent further erosion, reduce the risk of structural collapse along adjacent boundaries, and ensure effective hydraulic performance of the river system.
Repair and reinstatement works were carried out on a collapsed concrete canal wall along Sand River in Industry Way. These repairs were necessary to prevent further structural failure, protect the adjacent roadway and guardrails, and ensure safe and effective stormwater flow.
North
Construction and repair work on the spillway at Lisbon Pond in Durbanville is under way to ensure the pond can safely and effectively discharge water during periods of heavy rainfall.
Cleaning operations are being conducted along the canal in Kuils River/Stikland, from Botterlary Road to the railway line along the R300. Work includes cutting long grass, removing debris, and clearing alien vegetation to improve flow and ensure optimal functioning of river inlets and the canal system.
Construction and repair work at the Hibiscus Canal on the Mosselbank River Tributary in Wellington Road, Wellway Park was recently completed. This intervention helps dissipate stormwater energy and protects the structural integrity of the canal infrastructure.
East
Dredging of accumulated sediment and silt has been completed along Victoria Street through to Victoria Link Road in Victoria Park. This work increases channel capacity, protects infrastructure, and has already contributed to reducing flood impacts in Helderzicht and Victoria Park.
Hand cleaning and mechanical dredging of canals and rivers is under way along the Macassar corridor, from Mandela Road to Mountain Rose in Macassar/Firgrove. These interventions ensure the system functions as designed and help prevent flooding caused by blockages from vegetation and debris.
Similar cleaning and dredging operations have been conducted in the Soet River in Nomzamo, Lwandle and Strand. These efforts are continuous to address the illegal dumping in canals and counter the flooding impacts caused by the infilling of ponds and encroachments by informal structures to improve the overall stormwater flow.
