Overview
Buffeljagsrivier Correctional Centre wastewater treatment plant serves 1,850 people in Swellendam Local Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa. It provides secondary treatment and discharges 250 m³/day.
The Buffeljagsrivier Correctional Centre wastewater treatment plant is located in Swellendam Ward 3, within the Swellendam Local Municipality of the Western Cape province, South Africa. The facility serves a population of approximately 1,850 people, primarily from the correctional centre and surrounding area. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under South Africa's National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) and the Wastewater Treatment Works regulations. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant discharges 250 cubic meters of treated effluent per day. The treated wastewater is released into the local environment, likely into a nearby river or stream that drains into the Breede River catchment. The Breede River flows into the Indian Ocean at St Sebastian Bay. The surrounding region supports agricultural activities and diverse aquatic life, making proper wastewater treatment essential for protecting water quality and downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Breede River catchment, which flows through the Western Cape and empties into the Indian Ocean at St Sebastian Bay. The river supports irrigated agriculture and estuarine habitats. The region's Mediterranean climate with winter rainfall means that summer low flows can concentrate pollutants, making effective secondary treatment critical for maintaining water quality and protecting downstream aquatic life.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Swellendam Ward 3, Buffeljagsrivier, within the Swellendam Local Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa.
The plant serves approximately 1,850 people, primarily from the correctional centre and surrounding area.
The plant discharges 250 cubic meters per day of treated effluent into the local water system, which flows into the Breede River catchment and eventually reaches the Indian Ocean.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting South African regulatory standards for wastewater treatment.
The plant operates under South Africa's National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) and the Wastewater Treatment Works regulations, which mandate secondary treatment for facilities of this scale to protect water resources and public health.
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