The Hartenbos estuary is located in Mossel Bay, a municipality in South Africa’s Western Cape Province. Every year, about 85,000 tourists visit Mossel Bay, and the lagoon is one of the attractions in the beach resort. However, water quality issues in the estuary strain the health and attractiveness of the ecosystem and are expected to worsen as population and tourist numbers grow.
This report presents the outcomes of investing in three alternative options for wastewater treatment in the Hartenbos estuary: improved water treatment plant (grey option), Organica (hybrid option) and artificial wetland (natural infrastructure).
It also provides an overview of the societal costs and benefits of different water treatment options, considering outcomes for citizens, businesses, the Mossel Bay Municipality and Western Cape government.