Help stop blocked drains
Other objects found included a dead dog, vehicle tyres, shoes, clothing and general household waste.
According to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s (EMM) Water and Sanitation Department, more than half of the 56 500 sewer blockage complaints attended to in the past year were caused by rubble and foreign objects in the system.
A recent incident in Thokoza even prompted the said department to call on the assistance of the fire brigade to remove rocks lodged six metres deep in the sewer line.
Other objects found included a dead dog, vehicle tyres, shoes, clothing and general household waste.
According to Thokozani Maseko, divisional head for water and sanitation, the majority of blockages are caused by foreign objects that are disposed of in sewer manholes or flushed down toilets into the system on a daily basis.
These include clothing, cutlery, newspapers, sanitary towels, disposable nappies and tyres.
“This practice causes damage to municipal infrastructure and ends up posing a threat to human health. When sewage overflows into the streets, residents, particularly children, become exposed to illnesses caused by waterborne diseases which may be present in sewage affluent,” said Maseko.
This financial year the municipality budgeted R7,48-million for maintenance to prevent sewer blockages.
A large portion of the money is spent on repairing damaged infrastructure and clearing these purposely caused blockages.
“The good news is we can all play a role to reduce the number of preventable blockages so that funds can be utilized towards developing a more effective system.
“It simply boils down to the proper disposal of waste. Instead of throwing unwanted objects down the sewer, utilise the waste management services provided by the municipality to dispose of waste safely and correctly. In addition to the weekly door-to-door refuse removal service provided, mini refuse sites and landfill sites are available for discarding other types of refuse and rubble,” said Maseko.
For more details on the location and use of these facilities, contact your nearest waste management services depot. All contact depot contact numbers are included on the annual colour-coded refuse removal schedule issued by EMM.
The list of disposal sites are also available at www.ekurhuleni.gov.za
Complaints can be reported to the Ekurhuleni Call Centre on 086 054 3000 or at www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/report-it
