THE eThekwini Municipality has announced an ambitious 10-year sanitation investment plan worth between R12.5b and R16.5b, aimed at upgrading the city’s ageing infrastructure and preparing for continued population growth.

Presented by the Municipality’s Water and Sanitation Services Directorates, the strategy focuses on improving system reliability, environmental compliance, and long-term resilience. The plan targets critical pressure points such as ageing treatment facilities, network blockages, and the need for modern monitoring technologies.

The largest portion of the investment will go to Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs), with R4b to R6b earmarked for capacity upgrades, sludge management improvements, and enhanced effluent compliance. A further R5b to R7b will support sewer network rehabilitation and expansion, tackling hydraulic constraints and reducing pollution hotspots across the city.

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Acting Director of Water and Sanitation Services, Sibusiso Vilane, said the investment will have far-reaching economic and environmental benefits. “It also ensures compliance with national effluent standards and supports climate resilience. The municipality envisions a modern, resilient, digitally enabled sanitation system that fosters community trust and positions eThekwini as a high-performance city ready for economic expansion,” said Vilane.

The plan also sets aside R2b to R3b for the overhaul of pump stations, including mechanical and electrical upgrades, standby power installation, and automation to ensure more reliable operations. To improve services in underserved communities, R1b to R2b will be invested in alternative sanitation options and informal settlement upgrades, such as communal ablution blocks and decentralised systems.

In addition, R500m has been allocated for digitalisation and smart monitoring, enabling real-time system oversight, predictive maintenance, and improved asset management. Municipal officials say the upgrades will not only stabilise essential services but also help unlock housing developments, attract industrial investment, and protect vital waterways and Durban’s coastal environment.

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