Institutional context and values

Aligned with UCT’s Vision 2030, which prioritises environmental sustainability and social responsibility, the university actively manages its use and discharge of water to prevent pollution and protect natural ecosystems. UCT applies local and national regulatory standards for effluent quality and integrates water-quality management into its campus operations and infrastructure planning.
The University of Cape Town maintains formal water-quality standards and discharge-control guidelines integrated into its environmental management system – UCT in 2024 has been preparing for ISO 14001 certification, which includes standard operating procedures to manage any environmental risks, including from water discharge.  . All wastewater from university operations is routed through the City of Cape Town’s municipal treatment system, ensuring compliance with the National Water Act (1998) and local effluent regulations. Stormwater and laboratory wastewater are monitored by UCT’s Properties & Services Division as part of ISO 14001 performance indicators, with regular inspection of drainage, grease traps, and pollution-prevention infrastructure. These measures uphold high water-quality standards to protect ecosystems, wildlife and human health, aligning with UCT’s Vision 2030 commitment to environmental sustainability.
 

1. Compliance with South African water-quality legislation and municipal standards

UCT’s water management is governed by the City of Cape Town’s Water By-laws (2010) and the National Water Act (1998). These require institutions to ensure that all stormwater and effluent discharges meet defined chemical, biological, and sedimentation quality parameters before entering municipal systems or natural watercourses.
UCT’s Properties & Services Department   and various faculties incorporate these statutory standards into their operational and environmental management plans and practices, ensuring compliance through regular monitoring and maintenance of plumbing, wastewater, and stormwater systems. In the Properties & Services Department, UCT has a central Occupational Health & Safety department that works with all the faculty Health & Safety Officers to manage all risks on campus and to the environment, including managing all risks to water systems from campus water discharge. 
Source: City of Cape Town By-laws (2010)

2. Wastewater, stormwater, and discharge management

In the Properties & Services Department, UCT has a central Occupational Health & Safety department that works with all the faculty Health & Safety Officers to manage all health and safety risks on campus and to the environment, including managing all risks to water systems from campus water discharge.
The requirement for all new buildings and major refurbishments to comply with the Green Star standard means that these new buildings or refurbishments will need to take precautions in terms of how they are designed to minimize risk of water pollution from storm water discharge.
 

3. Broader ecosystem protection and health linkages

UCT’s environmental management policies acknowledge that maintaining high water-quality standards safeguards not only infrastructure and human health, but also the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems that interface with the campus’s open drainage and runoff systems, many of which connect to the Liesbeek River and Table Mountain National Park.
By adhering to discharge-quality guidelines and implementing infrastructure maintenance schedules, UCT prevents contaminated runoff from impacting local biodiversity and watercourses.
Source: UCT Environmental Sustainability Strategy and UCT OHS Department .
 

4. Monitoring of wastewater and stormwater quality

UCT’s central Occupational Health & Safety department works with all the faculty Health & Safety Officers to monitor and manage all health and safety risks on campus and to the environment, including managing all risks to water systems from campus water discharge.
 

5. Integration of water-quality safeguards into environmental management

UCT is implementing the ISO 14001 standard, which incorporates standard operating procedures for environmental management, including reducing risks associated with water discharge.
 

6. Environmental reporting and legal compliance

UCT’s central OHS Department ensures that the university is legally compliant when it comes to environmental and health risks on campus, with various levels of responsibility at the levels of the Deans’ of Faculties and the Vice Chancellor taking ultimate responsibility for this.
Demonstrates formal alignment with national legal frameworks and local government regulations concerning water discharge and quality.
 

7. Sustainability linkage to ecosystem protection

The University of Cape Town maintains formal water-quality standards and discharge-control guidelines integrated into its environmental management system . All wastewater from university operations is routed through the City of Cape Town’s municipal treatment system, ensuring compliance with the National Water Act (1998) and local effluent regulations. Stormwater and laboratory wastewater are monitored by UCT’s Properties & Services Division as part of environmental performance indicators, with regular inspection of drainage, grease traps, and pollution-prevention infrastructure. These measures uphold high water-quality standards to protect ecosystems, wildlife and human health, aligning with UCT’s Vision 2030 commitment to environmental sustainability.