Farrarmere Gardens owed new sewer lines

Sewage was flowing into homes.

The current sewer pipes are about a half a metre deep and are causing sewage to flow into people’s homes.

Only some of the houses in Farrarmere Gardens are receiving new sewer lines.

READ:

Things not going swimmingly well at Benoni pool

Ward 28 Clr Malanie Haggard said the project started in January.

Haggard explained that along with new sewer lines, each house will also be fitted with an independent water meter.

Farrarmere Gardens committee member Yolandi Jonker said many of the independent water metres do not work and most residents were still paying a “flat rate”.

Haggard said independent water meters will make it possible for residents to receive their title deeds.

She also explained that the Department of Water and Sanitation is working under the instruction of the Department of Human Settlements to implement the project.

“At this stage, there is just a lot of duck and diving, so I am going to the Department of Housing to hear when the rest of Farrarmere Gardens will be getting new lines,” she said.

She said the first project was launched in 2014 but the contract was stopped by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) because “the contractors made a mess”.

“I have been trying to revive the project since August 2016,” said Haggard.

“I can’t give you an exact date of when it will be finished but the project will take four to six months to complete,” said Haggard.

She explained that the people in the area are in dire need of new pipes as sewerage sometimes backs up in their houses.

EMM spokesperson Themba Gadebe confirmed that the new project is being done as the initial sewer lines caused a backflow of sewage.

He said a budget of R919 951 was allocated to the project.

When asked why the first installation had been ineffective, Gadebe said, “There shallow (sic)”.

Jonker said she was told by municipal officials that only one part of the area will receive new sewer lines.

“They said they will need to get a new contractor to initiate the second phase,” she said, explaining that she had not been given a reason.

She said new lines would only be installed in the area where the backflow was the worst and said officials told her if this is done, the problem will be resolved.