Name of the Project
Faure New Water Scheme (FNWS).

Location
Western Cape, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
City of Cape Town.

Project Description
The FNWS is one of the key drivers of Cape Town’s New Water Programme (NWP).

The proposed project will combine the newest purification technologies, sophisticated online monitoring and control systems, as well as best-practice operating protocols.

The FNWS will produce up to 100-million litres a day. The  project will use feed water from the upgraded Zandvliet Wastewater Treatment Works. This water will be initially blended with raw water from dams, with a maximum ratio of 20% reuse water and 80% dam water. 

The blended water will then be treated once more by the conventional processes of the existing Faure water treatment plant (WTP), before being stored in the Faure reservoir. 

The advanced water purification plant (AWPP) at the Faure WTP relies on a multibarrier purification process to remove contaminants. The AWPP will include the ozonation, biological activated carbon filtration, granular activated carbon filtration, ultrafiltration, UV advanced oxidation and disinfection of the reused water. Following this, the water should be safe for human consumption.

The distribution network can supply this water across most of Cape Town.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
About R3.2-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
A final decision on the implementation, operation and maintenance of the Faure New Water Scheme has not yet been made. However, the estimated starting date for drinking water to potentially flow from the Faure scheme is 2030/31.

Latest Developments
The feasibility study completed on the implementation model has recommended that the project be rolled out as a public–private partnership (PPP).

The study regards a PPP model as the one that offers value for money, with an opportunity “for significant risk transfer to the private sector”, and has noted that a PPP did not constitute privatisation, as the city remains the water services provider and owner of the infrastructure.

Owing to what is described as “the complex nature of the FNWS”, the feasibility study determined that it might be more workable to procure an external company to build, finance and operate the water scheme through a competitive bidding process.

The City of Cape Town will pay for the additional bulk water produced through an offtake agreement, provided that the water quality meets the required contractual standards.

Once built, the FNWS will be the property of the city. The city will also retain the legislative responsibility of ensuring water safety and compliance.

Through similar agreements, external companies are used to support the City of Cape Town in providing other services, such as solid waste management, public transport provision and the operation of wastewater services infrastructure, as is the case at the Zandvliet works.

The feasibility study has also found that the FNWS will diversify and strengthen the resilience of the city’s bulk water supply.

Legal and regulatory approvals are also in place, with the necessary land secured.

The study has further confirmed that the project is affordable.

The feasibility study on the implementation model is open for comment until August 21.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Not disclosed.

Contact Details for Project Information
City of Cape Town Water and Sanitation, email water@capetown.gov.za.