Umdloti residents frustrated as sewage spills plague community yet again
The overflow has resulted in sewage flowing into nearby forests and onto the M27, posing health risks and environmental hazards.
Umdloti is once again besieged by sewage spills from one of the new developments higher up.
eThekwini municipality’s new Sibaya Node 5 sewage pump station has been overflowing since early last week, provoking the ire of residents.
The pump station receives sewage from the Sibaya Node 5 development and has overflowed every couple of weeks.
Blockages are usually swiftly cleared but this time, apparently because of the protracted municipal workers’ strike, the sewer department has been unable to do the necessary repairs timeously.
The Courier tried to visit the pump station on Friday but was denied access by security guards. They did, however, politely explain that the pump station was overflowing and pointed out the problem area.
On Monday, the Courier visited the off-site overflow pipe where sewage flows straight into the forest next to the M27. Alarmingly, there was no sump to collect and hold sewage overflows.
Instead, the water has carved its own path through the forest and onto the M27 about 100m above the Marshall Security guard hut.
A steady stream of putrid smelling sewage has been flowing down the M27 into Umdloti where it diverts into the Sweetwater Stream across from the Bellamont Road turn-off.
From there the sewage follows the natural water course towards the traffic circle and into the ocean.
Umdloti Smart Village, a group of dedicated volunteers, have been working tirelessly to restore Umdloti’s former glory, but it is events like these that often thwart progress.
Besides the obvious inconvenience and health risk, the repeated flow of sewer water down the road is also understood to contribute towards the erosion and possible collapse of the only road into and out of Umdloti.
“We have escalated the matter to various relevant senior eThekwini managers, pointing out the risk this overflow presents to the M27 being cut away opposite Bellamont Road,” the Smart Village said.
The state of the road and the exacerbating role played by the repeated sewage spills was confirmed to the Courier by an official from the municipal roads and storm water department who was taking pictures for a report to his superiors on Friday morning. He asked not to be named.
The eThekwini municipality had not responded at the time of publication.
Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.
Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.
