EMM gives input after Typhoid concern for parents

ALBERTON – An EMM representative was reported to say, “The sewer overflow that occurred on October 24 was reported to us at 09:28 and we reacted to the call within an hour and a half to open the blockage.”

Laurika replied, “This is true. They came out and opened the blocked drain to pour some chemicals on the property after I had e-mailed them asking if they are going to treat the contaminated soil. We are living with uncertainty and the fear of anyone in the household getting sick again is unbearable.”

At about 16:00 on Friday October 25, a gentlemen from sewerage and water department came to see if the chemicals they had poured in the morning had dried up and when Laurika was speaking to the gentlemen, her eye was off her son (Nathan) for five minutes and as she turned to him again he was eating soil. She told the gentlemen: “You see what stress I have to live and deal with on a daily basis.”

On Saturday October 26, the same gentlemen came and put compost and chemicals on the contaminated soil.

“This incident has no reference to the pump station next to the complainants stand. If the pump station fails, the overflow is towards the street and not to her stand,” stated an EMM representative.

“The problem with this, is that every time the pump blocks up on the outside and then it pushes up into the pipeline of the property blocking the inside drains then over flowing into the backyard, which then overflows into the back section of the property,” said Laurika sadly.

“When it was reported at the beginning of October about the child being in hospital, an inspection showed that the sewer network was fine and no overflow occurred then but the internal sewer on the stand was seriously blocked,” replied EMM representative.

“It was ‘fine’ because I had to call a plumber and pay out of my pocket at a staggering rate of R400 a time-oh yes, and this is over a couple of years. The reason why the inside drains were blocked is due to the fact that the pump had a breakdown but by that time, I didn’t have money to open the drain because my child was in hospital and the blockage of the drain happens regularly.”

Through the force of the water coming through, it spills over onto the ground. All the water gets pulled back to the pump station but all the sewage remains behind causing further problems.

As soon as they fix the pump, the liquid/water gets pulled back to the pump station but the remains stay behind and this is when they have to open the drain because it is inside the yard.

“The pump station will be eliminated in the medium term and the process has started for it to happen,” EMM representative.

“What does medium term mean? This problem has been on going for more than twelve years. If they say this sewage is not over spilling on to the property, then how did the salmonella enterica virus get there – and what is going to be done to eliminate further contamination of the soil?” said Laurika. “Who is going to give me the assurance that this soil is okay for kids to play with/in – for my kids, their friends and any children in general – and to plant vegetables again because everything has been removed?”

No further response to the media had been received by October 30 or 31.

There was a meeting on October 31 with participants: Laurika van der Westhuizen, Cara Povall, Brian Schutte, Councillor Michael Kriek and Franscine Hillary Patel.

Councillor Michael Kriek stated, “The are new developments on the Eastern side of the N3 which are up and coming. They are connected to the system and this could escalate the overflow. The council grants permission for these newly developed properties. During the raining season some residents illegally dump their rain water that goes into the sewer pipes, this also fills up the pipe system that causes a significant overflow.”

Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality sent an e-mail with short and long term measures… which lead to: “the said sewer pump station is also earmarked for replacement with an outfall sewer in the 2014/15 financial year. Council has budgeted for this project.”

The comments from the media with regards to the matter of residents in Dewittrus Alberton North had been sent via e-mail and the resident of the home had responded according to that.