"Walk-in" Councillor Clinics

Here is the full list of dates I have earmarked for "Clinics" in the Ward.  You are welcome to make an appointment, or to just arrive and take your chances.  I look forward to seeing you.

Westlake Community Centre. 9:00am to 1:00pm

Tuesday 6^th March

Tuesday 3^rd April

Tuesday 8^th May

Tuesday 5^th June

Tuesday 7^th August

Tuesday 4^th September

Tuesday 2^nd October

Tuesday 6^th November

Tuesday 4^th December

Alphen Centre. 9:00am to 1:00pm

Friday 2^nd March

Friday 16^th March

Friday 20^th April

Friday 4^th May

Friday 18^th May

Friday 1^st June

Friday 15^th June

Friday 20^th July

Friday 3^rd August

Friday 17^th August

Friday 7^th September

Friday 21^st September

Friday 5^th October

Friday 19^th October

Friday 2^nd November

Friday 16^th November

Tel:  021 794 2493

Fax:  021 794 7692

Cell: 083 444 0100

Email: penny.east@capetown.gov.za

City water entirely safe despite earthy taste

CITY OF CAPE TOWN

MEDIA RELEASE

13 FEBRUARY 2012

City water entirely safe despite earthy taste

Over the past few weeks, water consumers in several parts of the city have experienced an earthy taste and odour in their drinking water. The City would like to reassure the residents of Cape Town that despite the slight taste and odour, the water is absolutely safe to drink. The taste and odour are caused by ‘Geosmin’ originating from two of the major dams supplying the City.

“The water, however, is perfectly safe and fit for human consumption. Continuous water quality monitoring by our South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) accredited laboratory has revealed elevated Geosmin concentrations, greater than 10 nanograms per litre (ng/l). In general, the human perception threshold is about 15 and 20 ng/l for Geosmin odour and taste respectively and people with a heightened sense of smell and taste would be the first to notice the presence of Geosmin in their water supply. These are extremely low concentrations and it should be noted that a nanogram is a billionth of a gram,” said the Manager of the City’s Bulk Water Branch, Peter Flower.

“The frequently asked questions and the answers in this media release are intended to assist consumers in understanding the origin of the problem, its impact on the water quality and what is being done about it. I trust that the information provided will assure consumers that the City strives to supply the best quality safe drinking water at all times,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee member for Utility Services, Councillor Shehaam Sims.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is causing the change in taste and smell?

Geosmin and MIB (2-Methyl-iso-Borneol) are naturally occurring compounds found in surface waters (rivers and dams) as organic molecules produced by blue-green algae. Bright sun, warm temperatures and nutrients result in ideal growing conditions for the algae. The compounds are produced inside the algae cells and are only released when the algae die.

Why does it occur?
Apart from the sunlight and raised temperatures, algae require nutrients to grow and some of the dams have suffered from upstream negative environmental impacts that have raised the nutrient levels, which support these algal blooms. This phenomenon usually only occurs once a year for a few weeks during the summer months.

Is the water quality affected by Geosmin or MIB?
Neither of these compounds is toxic or harmful. 

What does it smell like?
Both Geosmin and MIB are typically earthy or musty in character and are sometimes described as smelling of Carbaspray or fresh green mielies (corn). These odours can be very persistent and although the algae are removed, the organic compounds, Geosmin and MIB are not removed by conventional water treatment processes.

Why do we smell it?
The human nose is extremely sensitive to both Geosmin and MIB. If you poured a teaspoon of Geosmin into the equivalent of 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools, you would still be able to smell it.

The general threshold for human perception is about 15 ng/l. However people with sensitive noses can detect these compounds in drinking water when the concentration is as low as 8 ng/l (8 nanograms per litre = 8 parts per trillion).

Heating the water increases the volatility of these compounds, which explains why the smell is more easily detected when you are in the shower or when used for hot beverages.

How does the City detect it?
Apart from all of the usual monitoring and the analysis of water quality parameters in our treatment plants and downstream in the pipeline system, the City has a protocol of regular monitoring of both the raw and treated waters across the city for naturally occurring organic compounds. 

Can it be removed from the drinking water?
Yes, Cape Town follows universal best practice, which is to treat the water with activated carbon. The very tiny organic molecules are adsorbed by the carbon particles and the carbon is then removed from the water. It is not possible to remove all molecules, but the aim is to maintain the concentration below the normal human taste and smell threshold level.

Where does it originate and how does it get to my area?
The blue-green algae and resultant organic compounds have occurred in both the Theewaterskloof and Voёlvlei Dams in varying degrees over the last 12 to 15 years for a few weeks during the summer months.

How well equipped is Cape Town to deal with the problems?

With the Blue Drop drinking water quality rating system which is a national programme that assesses all water authorities in the country on an annual basis, Cape Town achieved a score within the top two since inception three years ago.

The City’s SANAS-accredited laboratory at the Scientific Services Branch is one of the best in the country, and is fully equipped to deal with all water quality-related issues. By way of example, the piece of equipment used to measure the level of Geosmin costs in excess of R1 million. We have the added advantage of qualified, highly specialised and experienced staff to operate the equipment and to effectively analyse the results. The services of this division of the laboratory are also made available to many other municipalities.

Does Geosmin occur elsewhere? 
Yes. The problem of Geosmin is not specific to Cape Town or to South Africa and we make use of the current world ‘best practice’ in terms of monitoring and treatment methods to manage the issue. 

Are we trying to learn better ways to monitor and treat water?
Many of Scientific Services and Bulk Water Branch employees have been and are actively participating, at a national level, with other water authorities, in research projects under the auspices of the Water Research Commission of South Africa.

Many of these research projects have resulted in us refining treatment processes as well as improving methods of process control. We also consult with other leading authorities on the subject in South Africa and abroad.

End

Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town

General media enquiries: Councillor Shehaam Sims, Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 1375 or Cell: 073 115 4447

Technical Media enquiries: Peter Flower, Manager: Bulk Water Branch, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 487 2586 or Cell: 082 375 0039

Road Closures

CITY OF CAPE TOWN

MEDIA RELEASE

6 FEBRUARY 2012

Road closures: State of the Nation Address/Opening of Parliament and rehearsals

To accommodate the State of the Nation Address and the Opening of Parliament on Thursday 9 February 2012 at 19:00, there will be road closures in the surrounding area, particularly the CBD. These road closures will also be in effect on the evenings of Tuesday 7 February and Wednesday 8 February when rehearsals for the event are held.

The road closures will affect the normal flow of traffic in and around the City Bowl and road users are asked to plan their routes accordingly.

The information below shows the planned road closures which will be republished should there be a need for a change. Traffic law enforcement officers will be deployed, and directional signage will also be erected.

ROAD CLOSURES

Due to the event several roads around Parliament will have to be closed off. The following roads will be closed on Thursday 9 February 2012

From 17:45 to 19:00

•     Klipper Road, Newlands: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue

•     Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands: from Newlands Avenue to Union Avenue

•     Newlands Avenue, Newlands: from Dean Street to Princess Anne Avenue

•     Dean Street, Newlands, westbound: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue

•     M3, Union Avenue, Rhodes Drive, De Waal Drive, city-bound carriageway: from Newlands Avenue to city centre

•     Woolsack Drive, Rondebosch, westbound: between Main Road (M4) and Rhodes Drive (M3)

•     Anzio Road, Observatory: from Main Road (M4) to De Waal Drive (M3)

•     N2, Settlers Way city-bound carriageway: from Main Road (M4) to city centre

•     N2, Settlers Way city-bound carriageway at M5: (traffic will be diverted along Black River Parkway to the city).

•     Nelson Mandela Boulevard (N2) city-bound: from Hospital Bend to Christiaan Barnard Street (including the Melbourne Road, Roodebloem Road and Searle Street onramps)

From 16:00 to 20:00

•     Nelson Mandela Boulevard: Strand Street off-ramp

•     Hertzog Boulevard in-bound: from Nelson Mandela Boulevard to Heerengracht

•     Strand Street: from Russel Street to Adderley Street

•     Strand Street between Long and Adderley Streets

•     Adderley Street: from Hans Strijdom Avenue to Wale Street

•     Heerengracht: between Coen Steytler and Hans Strijdom Avenues

•     Wale Street in-bound: between Queen Victoria and Adderley Streets

•     Bureau Street: between Adderley and Parliament Streets

•     Spin Street: between Plein Street and Parliament Streets

•     Parliament Street from the gates of Parliament to approximately 35m before Longmarket Street (excluding the parking garage situated in Parliament Street)

•     Plein Street between Roeland and Spin Streets

•     Closure of the Company’s Garden

•     Commercial Street from Buitenkant to Plein Streets.

From 06:00 on 9 February 2012 to 01:00 on 10 February 2012

•     Plein Street: between Roeland and Spin Streets

•     Roeland Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Streets - deliveries to businesses or access to private dwellings will not be affected as provision will be made.

•     Government Avenue

•     Gallery Lane

•     St John's Road: between Plein and Vrede Streets

•     Commercial Street: to be closed at Plein Street and to become bi-directional from 06:OO until 23:59

•     Bouquet Street

•     Buitenkant Street between Roeland and Mill Streets: Traffic will be diverted at Mill Street and access control will be in place (New location for Remote Search Park – Buitenkant Street between Roeland Street and Glynn Street)

PARKING RESTRICTIONS

Will be in place in the following areas from midnight (23:59) on Wednesday 8 February 2012 to 22:00 on Thursday 9 February 2012:

•     Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands

•     Church Square, corner of Spin and Parliament Streets

•     Roeland Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Streets

•     Plein Street: between Roeland and Spin Streets

•     Spin Street: between Parliament and Plein Streets

•     Parliament Street: between Longmarket and Bureau Streets

•     Hatfield and St John's Streets: between Roeland and Orange Streets

•     Adderley Street: between Wale Street and Hertzog Boulevard

•     St Mary's Cathedral Parking Area: between Bouquet and Roeland Streets

•     Gallery Lane

•     Commercial Street between Plein and Buitenkant Streets

•     Hertzog Boulevard: From Nelson Mandela Boulevard to Heerengracht

•     Hope Street between Roeland and Bouquet Streets

ADDITIONAL CLOSURES

Closure for 7 and 8 February 2012 from 17:00 – 23:59 (Rehearsals)

·         Hertzog Boulevard incoming: from Nelson Mandela Boulevard to Heerengracht

•     Strand Street off ramp from Nelson Mandela Boulevard

•     Strand Street incoming: from Russel Street to Adderley Street

•     Strand Street between Long Street and Adderley Street (eastbound) – (Traffic diverted into Long Street)

•     Adderley Street: from Hans Strijdom Avenue to Wale Street

•     Heerengracht: between Coen Steytler and Hans Strijdom Avenues

•     Bureau Street: between Adderley and Parliament Streets

•     Spin Street: between Corporation and Parliament Street

Additional controlled roads and closures

·         Security fencing will line the route in the CBD. There will be guarded pedestrian crossing points during peak time on Adderley Street  at Hans Strijdom, Waterkant and Castle Streets.

·         The Company’s Garden will be closed on Thursday 10 February from 16:00 to 20:00.

Parking restrictions – Wednesday 8 February 2012 from 00:00 (midnight) to 01:00 on Friday 10 February 2012:

Please note that no parked vehicles will be permitted in the following areas:

·          NEWLANDS

o   Newlands

o   Princess Anne Ave.

·         City CBD / Foreshore area:

o   Adderley Street and Heerengracht: between Wale Street and Hertzog Boulevard.

o   Hertzog Boulevard.

·         Parliament / Company’s Garden area:

o   Church Square: corner of Spin Street and Parliament Street.

o   Roeland Street: between Buitenkant and Plein Street (01:00)

o   Plein Street: between Roeland Street and Spin Street (01:00)

o   Spin Street: between Parliament Street and Plein Street.

o   Parliament Street: between Longmarket Street and Bureau Streets.

o   Hatfield and St. John’s Streets: between Roeland Street and Orange Street(01:00)

o   St. Mary’s Cathedral Parking Area: between Bouquet Street and Roeland Street (01:00)

o   Gallery Lane. (01:00)

o   Commercial Street: between Buitenkant and Plein Street(01:00)

SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

Road users are advised to use the following alternative routes to/from the CBD during the event:

·         M5, Black River Parkway, then onto the N1, Table Bay Boulevard  

·         M4, Main Road, onto Victoria Road up to the Good Hope Centre. Thereafter left onto Tennant Road or right onto Christiaan Barnard Street to circle the outer CBD.

Outer CBD Circle Road:

Use the following ring route to/from the area of the CBD affecting you:

·         Christiaan Barnard Street

·         Table Bay Boulevard

·         Buitengragt

·         Buitensingel Street

·         Orange Street

·         Jutland Avenue

·         Upper Roeland Street/Brandweer Street

·         Tennant Street

MYCITI BUS SERVICE

The MyCiti bus service will continue to run throughout this period. At the Civic Centre station, buses will arrive at and depart from the north side of the station (Hertzog Boulevard out-bound). Passengers and pedestrians will not be permitted to use Hertzog Boulevard in-bound sidewalks on Thursday 9 February between 16:00 and 20:00; please use the other access points. 

End

Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town

Kylie Hatton, Manager: Media, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 4684 or Cell: 082 874 4605