Sewage leak finally fixed after causing a stink in uMgeni Park

ANTHONY Road residents in uMgeni Park have bemoaned the length of time its taken the eThekwini Municipality to fix a sewage leak.

The leak, which was fixed on Thursday, July 8, had been causing a stink on the busy residential road for more than two weeks.

Residents said the stench from the leak made it unbearable to stand outside their homes.

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Anthony Road resident, Janet Linde said the sewage overflow affected two parts of the property.

“It was just over two weeks that the sewage leak was ongoing. The stench was terrible. For us to have to phone several times and the matter to be resolved only after it has been escalated is unacceptable. There were pedestrians walking past the raw sewage which was running down the road. I was concerned people would get sick. I’m glad it has been fixed but there has to be a better response time from the City,” she said.

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said he was told the sewage overflow was due to a blocked sewerage pipe.

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“The municipal contractor told us that roots and branches had clogged a section of the sewerage pipe which was causing this overflow. While I’m glad the leak has been fixed, I don’t understand why it has taken the municipality more than two weeks to sort this out. These types of leaks are health hazards and a danger to residents and pedestrians alike. We’d just like the City to attend to matters quicker as we are ratepayers that are entitled to these services,” he said. 

While the City did not respond at the time of going to print, it said that around 70 per cent of pipes that are clogged are as a result of alien objects disposed in sewerage systems.