Defective pump causes big stink
uMhlanga residents fed-up with defective sewage station pump.
AN uMhlanga couple say they are at their wits ends after yet another sewage spill outside their home on Eastmoor Crescent. The reason for the discharge is being blamed on a defective pump station. Nick and his wife, Phyllis Opperaman have a stormwater drain which runs under their home and flushes excess water out into the sea. However, in recent years, particularly in heavy downpours, raw sewage floods into the stormwater and the pipe which is damaged, the discharge collects into a pool outside their home.
When the drain is blocked, the sewage also ends up flooding the road which prevents anyone from driving through the effluent. Nick said he has been pushed from pillar to post when he pushed for answers from the municipality.
“The smell is just awful and it is especially embarrassing when we have guests over. We’ve had to warn residents who bring their kids to the beach not to play in the sand outside our home because of all the sewage in the sand. You can actually see bits of toilet paper sticking out in the sand. All the municipality have done is thrown sand over the raw sewage.
“It’s created a kind of e-coli pit. It’s extremely frustrating reporting it to the municipality; they give you a reference and never come back to you. We are paying high rates and taxes and yet this problem persists and nothing is ever done about it,” said the frustrated resident.
Opperman said the problem is exacerbated when there is heavy rain.
“The health department have also responded saying this should not be allowed. We’ve also been told there’s no money to fix the problem. It’s just not acceptable and it’s been going on for too long,” he said.
uMhlanga ward councillor Heinz de Boer echoed the Opperman’s sentiments.
“This is a huge ecological disaster. We do have a problem with several sewage pump stations along the coast and a lack of management and funding by the city has worsened the problem. The city has more than 200 pump stations, about 50 have back up generators.
“I’ve been told by engineers that all stations should have two pumps, but there is only one functioning at the one on Eastmoor Crescent. There should also be a back-up generator for when load shedding strikes and I’ve been assured one has been ordered for this particular station,” de Boer said.
