Ongoing sewage issues in Umbilo a concern
Three major overflows of sewage were recorded on Khuzimpi Shezi (Williams) and Dalton Roads during October.
THE water and sewerage systems in Durban are in major decline. So says Ian Campbell-Gillies from the Umbilo Business Forum (UBF).
This comes after three major overflows were recorded on Khuzimpi Shezi (Williams) and Dalton Roads during October.
A business owner in the area reported sewage overflowing at his premises, stating this needed urgent attention, as it was happening daily, with sewage going into the Durban Harbour via the stormwater drain.
In addition to this, Campbell-Gillies said a water pipe burst and jetted millions of litres from the building site at the intersection of Magwaza Maphalala (Gale) Street and Alan Paton Road, unattended for three days.
“There seems to be no reporting system in eThekwini and it has now become the work of citizen bodies like the UBF to report these system failures. Failures are reported to a Water WhatsApp line and the reference number forwarded to Area Based Management stalwart Irene Chetty who does amazing work. Umbilo citizens and businesses are grateful to her,” he said.
ALSO READ: UBF efforts to clean up Congella need municipal input
The issue of a failing sewerage system in lower Umbilo/Congella has been highlighted by the group before, with the UBF stating despite the R100 million rates bill paid by businesses in the area each year, rivers of sewage flow unchecked along roads in the precinct, blocked drains overflow with sewage, and people are forced to walk through the mess, many of whom live in the nearby hostel. Some citizens also have no toilet, and are defecating next to Dunkirk Park.
“We have asked for proactive municipal engagement, for the municipality to be proactive and involved with business or residents in the area. We want to know what the municipality plans to do do to rectify the situation as this is a health hazard. There needs to be a solution,” he said.
Responding to queries on the matter, eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said: “The issue of blocking manholes continues to be a problem in the city, this is despite the speed at which the city moves to attend to such blockages.”
ALSO READ: City’s neglect turns Umbilo business district into cesspool of crime and grime
Mayisela said what is compounding the problem is that the public continues to dispose of foreign objects into the system causing it to block.
“The City does receive reports of manhole blockages from time to time and its responds to them but within a short space of time we find ourselves having to go back to square one. We also have a serious concern of our residents who are invading land, who later on connect illegally to our system, with material, which is not compatible with the system, resulting in it to malfunction,” he said.
Mayisela said eThekwini will never derive any joy from subjecting its residents to manholes that continually block.
“For us to be able to win the war against blockages and leaks, we need to work together unceasingly by heeding all the calls made by the municipality to residents to refrain from dumping foreign objects into the system.”
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