The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has discovered that there are several factors responsible for sewer blockages.
These include:
• Increase in population
Ekurhuleni has experienced a population growth at a rate of 2.5 per cent over the last 10 years.
The problem of population growth is particularly acute in high density townships, as there are always some backyard households not ordinarily accommodated in the design of the sewer infrastructure.
This results in massive pressure on the sewer system.
• Disposal of insoluble materials
There is rampant disposal of solids and plastics in the drainage system.
Sewer blockages are caused by items such as cotton wool, rags, spoons, newspapers, clothing and sand, that are trapped in the system.
This abuse of the system triggers blockages and is often confirmed when there is a blockage, as heaps of sand are retrieved from the system.
• Old infrastructure
The metro is sitting on at least R700-million worth of overdue sewer infrastructure upgrades and replacements.
The implication of having such a huge backlog is that infrastructure that has outlived its usefulness continues to render service, notwithstanding the poor service arising from the use of such infrastructure.
• Vandalism of the system
A few select residents are also in the habit of stealing manhole covers for recycling and generally vandalising the infrastructure.
Solids then fall into the sewer, causing blockages.
Residents also throw solids and plastics directly into the manholes.
• Disposal of insoluble materials
The municipality continues to engage communities through various mediums in order to educate the public about the correct use of sewer infrastructure.
In addition, by-laws are in place and are continually enforced as part of a second tier approach to curbing the abuse.
• The way forward
The municipality continuously anticipates all infrastructure upgrade requirements and updates infrastructure upgrading plans annually.
To this end, sewer upgrading and replacement programmes with a total value of R3.5-billion have been identified.
Priorities have been identified based on the frequency of pipe bursts.
The metro is actively finalising a grand programme to address all immediate and medium-term infrastructure upgrading and replacement backlogs.
Notwithstanding this programme, all blockages will be attended to within 48 hours, in terms of service standards.
• Response to sewer blockages
Irrespective of the many programmes and projects underway, the metro commits to respond to and to resolve any pipe blockages within 48 hours.
The public is encouraged to report all incidents through the call centre by dialling 0860 543 000.
