Klein-Nyl dilemma discussed
Cable theft forced the sewage treatment plant in Modimolle to a stop for five days.
At an early morning meeting between the Mayor of the Modimolle-Mookgophong Municipality, Sechele Sebolai, the municipal manager, Ben Thobela and several officials and councillors on Wednesday, 28 August, the reasons for the increased sewer overflow into the Klein Nyl River was discussed.
Contractors have solved the problem in the meantime as the breakdown was caused by cable theft. But years of neglect and insufficient capacity of the infrastructure on the sewer line are still causing headaches…and a big stink.
Thabang Selemela, the manager of the municipality’s water and sanitation services, said that the main problems are at Lilian Ngoyi Street, in Van Riebeeck- and Paul Kruger Streets. The lines at Joe Slovo- and Limpopo Streets also add to the burden. Over the past decade, Die Pos has repeatedly reported on sewage problems on these lines.
The town’s water system faces a challenge because the sewage pipes, installed many years ago, are too narrow for the amount of sewage they need to carry. This combined with sand flushed into the system when it rains, is a recipe for disaster.
“We also have a problem with restaurants flushing cooking oil and other fat remains down the drains. Most of them do not have grease traps, or don’t use them,” Selemala explained. The mayor urged him to write to those businesses and said that by-laws should be amended where necessary.
According to Selemela some pipes sagged during floods, which meant the gradient was no longer enough for water flow.
Concerns were raised about blankets, aluminium pipes, bricks, and rocks forced into the sewage pipes, causing blockages. Some councillors said that since the municipality does not use contractors after buying its own sewer jet, they must be wary of vandalism.
Phase one of the sewage line upgrades has been completed from Lilian Ngoyi Street to the treatment works. Phase two, which includes the sewage line between the F.H. Odendaal Hospital and the river, needs urgent attention. The cost of R50 million has prohibitive terms, as the municipality is unfunded. They have applied for financial assistance regarding this.
According to Selemela, they plan to move the pipeline away from the river to prevent sewage from ending up in the river.
