Cape Town’s marine outfall systems are operating within permitted limits and under regulatory oversight, as an appeal against discharge licences issued by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) remains unresolved. The City of Cape Town says all three outfalls, located at Green Point, Camps Bay, and Hout Bay, are functioning within their approved discharge allowances.
Discharge Allowances
According to the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, the outfalls are operating at around 50% of their summer discharge allowances. For example, Camps Bay has a summer discharge allowance of 5.5 million litres per day, while Green Point has a summer discharge allowance of 44 million litres per day.
Badroodien said these figures relate to average dry weather flows, adding that higher discharge volumes are permitted during winter months. The City is complying with the conditions of its discharge permits, referring to operational and environmental monitoring results presented at a recent Permit Advisory Forum.
Environmental Monitoring
The City conducts sampling in accordance with a programme approved by the DFFE, which includes measuring hundreds of environmental factors, such as chemical, pharmaceutical, nutrient, and metal contaminants at the three outfalls, as well as at two False Bay sites every month. This work is carried out by independent, accredited laboratories and marine science experts, with results presented at public Permit Advisory Forum meetings.
Addressing criticism that untreated sewage is being discharged into the ocean, Badroodien explained that marine outfalls are designed systems that rely on dilution and natural processes. He added that the City is undertaking a refurbishment programme at all three outfall pump stations, following the award of a design-and-build contract in January 2026, with completion scheduled for December 2027.
For more information on marine outfalls and their impact on the environment, visit the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries website. The City’s efforts to manage its marine outfalls are crucial to maintaining the health of Cape Town’s coastal waters, which are an important part of the city’s ecosystem and economy.
- Camps Bay outfall: 5.5 million litres per day summer discharge allowance
- Green Point outfall: 44 million litres per day summer discharge allowance
- Hout Bay outfall: 10.78 million litres per day summer discharge allowance
