Westville sewage leak remains unattended
The eThekwini Municipality had danger tape set up but repairs have not yet been made to stop the flow of sewage into the stream.
CONCERN has continued to mount as a sewage leak in a park in Fyfe Road in Westville has been allowed to flow unchecked for weeks.
“We picked up a smell a few weeks ago. We are worried as our dogs are walked in the park twice a day. We had a sewage leak there in the past and it was tended to pretty quickly. This time though it has been totally ignored,” said a concerned Rod McDonald. His wife, Shirley, said the fault was reported on Tuesday, 26 November. The municipality attended the site the following day, put up danger tape and left.
ALSO READ: Despite complaints, municipality does not repair sewerage pipe
“Then the rains came. The sewage has continued to leak into the stream that runs into the Palmiet River,” said McDonald. “The leak has only become worse as the days go by. The heavy rain seems to help clear the smell but its still pouring into the water.”
McDonald said she followed up on her initial report with three phone calls and each time was told that the matter was being escalated.
The local Ward 18 councillor, Melanie Brauteseth, was contacted and she said she would try and escalate repairs.
“I would have thought it wouldn’t be that difficult to have someone come through and at least drain it. We are worried about our health and the health of those that make use of the park or the dogs that drink water from the stream. I’m sure I will have a heavy vet bill,” said McDonald.
Ward 18 councillor, Melanie Brauteseth, said:
“The situation as it stands is completely unacceptable. The sewage leak is due to broken infrastructure in the area. The issue of unserviced and broken infrastructure is a wider problem that bedevils our community. I have raised this issue with the eThekwini Municipality and their lack of action is a reflection of this sad state of affairs. The officials that work in the Inner West area are committed to resolution but their hands are tied by a lack of budget and personnel.”
ALSO READ: Pollution in Westville’s Palmiet River worsens
“The water flowing down this river will eventually end up in the ocean and significantly affect E. coli levels. I will endeavour to ensure that a team is immediately dispatched to repair the broken infrastructure and stop the pollution of our river. On a macro level, I will be calling for a complete inspection of all sewerage infrastructure in Ward 18 to take proactive measures to prevent such incidents in the future.”
The eThekwini Municipality has not provided comment.
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