Green Point Outfall Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cape Town, Western Cape

Green Point Outfall is a key wastewater treatment facility located in Mouille Point, Cape Town, within the Western Cape province of South Africa. The plant serves a population of around 296,000, classifying it as a large agglomeration under South African water management frameworks. Its coastal location near the Atlantic Ocean influences its discharge strategy. As a large-scale facility, Green Point Outfall is expected to meet national effluent quality standards set by the South African Department of Water and Sanitation. Plants of this size typically employ primary or secondary treatment before marine discharge. The designed capacity is reported as 1.00, though the unit is unspecified, indicating substantial infrastructure. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Atlantic Ocean via a marine outfall, a common approach for coastal cities to minimize environmental impact. The outfall is located off Mouille Point, with effluent dispersed into the cold Benguela Current, which supports a rich marine ecosystem. This discharge method helps protect the nearby Table Bay and coastal waters.

Green Point Outfall discharges into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Cape Town, within the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem. This nutrient-rich current supports diverse marine life, including seabirds, fish, and marine mammals. The outfall is designed to disperse effluent away from sensitive coastal habitats, though cumulative impacts from urban runoff and other discharges remain a concern for local water quality.