THE eThekwini Municipality announced that efforts to upgrade wastewater infrastructure and enhance the performance of treatment facilities remain a top priority.

This emerged at the executive committee (Exco) meeting held on September 23, where members received a detailed update from uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW) and the Water and Sanitation Department.

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Exco said that while the Southern Wastewater Treatment plant in Merebank had previously caused inconvenience to the community, including sewer water spilling onto roads, sewer infrastructure has since improved.

At the centre of these efforts is the five-year operation and maintenance agreement between the municipality and UUW, set to conclude in November. The partnership has become a cornerstone in modernising eThekwini’s wastewater management systems.

According to a municipal statement, UUW currently operates and maintains 10 of eThekwini’s largest Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW), which collectively process 90% of the city’s sewage.

“The agreement was designed to elevate service standards, ensure compliance with discharge licences and protect the city’s rivers and coastline from pollution, while also improving water quality and building long-term operational resilience,” it read.

Last year, eThekwini Municipality recorded a 7.2% increase in cumulative compliance across its WWTW. The municipality added that facilities in the southern regions and Durban central have consistently maintained compliance levels above 90%, demonstrating the impact of targeted interventions.

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