uMgeni Park sewage leak needs urgent attention says councillor
The sewage leak is flowing into the river near the Connaught Bridge and a pump house on Roadhouse Crescent is believed to be at the centre of the leak.
UMGENI Park residents says the sewage leak flowing into the uMngeni River is continuing unabated.
The leak, which has been flowing into the river for the last three months has raised health and safety concerns with Durban North ward councillor, Shaun Ryley, labelling the leak an ‘environmental disaster’.
The sewage leak is flowing into the river near the Connaught Bridge and a pump house on Roadhouse Crescent is believed to be at the centre of the leak with some suggesting that sewage is being pumped into the river deliberately.
However, according to City officials who have been in contact with Ryley, this is untrue.
“There’s a photo on social media which suggests the sewage water is being pumped through two pipes that flow into the stormwater drain outside the station, which then flow into the river. From what I’ve been told the problem with the pump station is a damaged riser main. The City said they are actually trying to pump waste water that is gravity fed, into another sewer main which flows into another treatment plant.
“What is flowing into the river seems to be what they aren’t able to pump out. That’s what has been presented to me by the City however there seems to be a disconnect with what I see on the river. I know the work to fix the riser main, which is buried seven metres underground has started, but the excavation area had to be shored up properly before work can begin. I know the City has processes in place where emergency funding can be made available and this is one of them. This is an environmental disaster,” he said.
Ryley said he was also concerned about cardboard collectors who use the water where the sewage is flowing into the river and for paddlers who use the river on a daily basis.
Despite repeated attempts, there has been no response from the City.
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