Residents happy a sewage sinkhole is repaired

Sinkholes caused by two collapsed sewerage pipes on 2 March in Lonehill were repaired by Johannesburg Water on 21 March.

Residents living in properties surrounding the Lappies Park Reserve along Concourse Crescent had complained about the smell and spill of sewage in the area. This was caused by the collapse of two 450mm clay pipes that were cracked which led to the sinkholes appearing in two affected complexes. The system failure led to sinkholes appearing in residents’ back gardens and a swimming pool.

Properties bordering Lappies Park had sewage flowing directly into the freshwater system.

Environment manager of the Lonehill Residents Association, Nadeem Abrahams said Johannesburg Water worked on the problem from 16 March and had concluded repairs on 21 March. “We had taken a long walk for a few days searching our storm water channels for the source,” Abrahams said.

“We eventually found the sewage leak on 2 March. It had taken Johannesburg Water over two weeks to finish everything.”

As a result of the sewage spill into the freshwater system at Lappies Park Reserve, Abrahams said a lot of water wildlife had been killed as the water flowed from Lonehill Park all the way to the Jukskei River.

“This can also affect avian life as well, since they feed from the water as well. It is suspected that the pipes have been damaged for some time and the sewage gradually created a cavity through the cracks which caused an implosion that led to the sinkhole,” he told the Fourways Review.

The wall of the affected complex had to be demolished for the excavation to take place because the two pipes were situated 10m below ground level.

Abrahams commended Johannesburg Water for their efficiency in handling the situation as residents now began the rebuilding phase.

The Fourways Review approached Joburg Water for comment on the matter, however, the utility was not able to provide a response prior to the publication going to print.