The City says thanks to innovative water reuse and recycling strategies in line with Level 5 water restrictions, people will be able to get their feet wet this summer.
The City is required to find a balance between compliance and providing quality amenities during summer, says the City’s JP Smith.
A decision has therefore been made to open 12 of the 35 municipal swimming pools during the peak summer season.
The Atlantis, Strand, Blue Downs Indoor, Khayelitsha, Bellville, Vulindlela, Retreat, Mnandi, Eastridge, Kensington and Hanover Park swimming pools will be open from 1 December 2017 until 31 January 2018, between 10am and 4pm daily.
The Sea Point Swimming Pool uses sea water and will thus be open from 1 November from 7am to 7pm daily in summer.
“Careful consideration went into selecting these facilities as they are easily accessible or located on a transport route. All of them have a maximum capacity of over 500 patrons and are equally represented across the four areas of the city,” says Smith.
Water backwashed from the pools will be stored, treated and reused. In addition, showers at all public amenities will be switched off.
Smith said converting some of the pools to sea water usage remains an option, although it is “quite a costly exercise given the infrastructure required”.
Meanwhile the Strand, Retreat, Blue Downs and Long Street indoor swimming pools will be open during the school holidays this week.