The Water Hub is a collaborative effort between the provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, and the University of Cape Town’s Future Water Institute. The Water Hub is situated at an abandoned wastewater treatment works outside Franschhoek and has been retrofitted to trial and demonstrate, at scale, the success of using nature-based solutions to filter highly polluted urban runoff from the informal Langrug Settlement and back into the Stiebeuel River.
“Water security and water quality are fast becoming some of the most pressing service delivery challenges for municipalities across South Africa. Research initiatives, such as the work done at the Water Hub in Franschhoek, is of critical importance as we move into the future,” Minister Bredell said.
The Western Cape Government, together with €400 000 funding from the Bavarian State and in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich, are now in the process of commissioning a 2-year joint project at the Water Hub, which will see the expansion of the existing treatment beds and adding a new system of filtration.
The objective is to reliably treat water to remove chemicals and microplastics at a constant flow of around 1250 liters per hour. Further focus is also being given to enhancing the Water-Energy-Food nexus to secure production in these areas as well as to improve ecosystem stability and develop the circular economy.