Smell from Athlone Waste Water Treatment Works reduced

By Mandisi Tyulu
15 January 2009

The Water and Waste Water Directorate, has announced that the unpleasant smell from the Athlone Waste Water Treatment works for a few weeks late last year has been neutralised.

Alderman Clive Justus, Mayoral Committee Member for the Utility Services Portfolio, says that towards the end of November 2008 there had been a malfunction in the sludge handling mechanism. Furthermore, sludge pipe work on the sludge drying beds was vandalised and this diverted partially treated sewage sludge into the sludge holding lagoons and the smell resulted in complaints from Pinelands and Athlone residents.

“The problem was aggravated on days when light winds and temperature inversions reduced wind dilution.”

The sludge was regularly sprayed with a masking chemical to reduce odours and further spraying took place to eliminate fly breeding until the sludge had dried, says Justus.

“To reduce the load on the Athlone works, a portion of the inflow was successfully diverted at the Raapenberg Sewage Pumping Station into the main outfall sewer to the Cape Flats Waste Water Treatment Works.”

Justus says damaged or malfunctioning components have been replaced and repaired and the plant is now fully operational.

“The City apologises for any inconvenience caused, says Justus.