Sewer leaks have sprung up all over town, but there is one major sewage problem that has particularly angered residents, who are demanding answers and are even taking matters into their own hands.
Raw effluent is flowing directly into the storm-water drain at the top of Francis Road, which has been appropriately named “Stink Spruit” by residents living nearby.
Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Sharon Buys visited the problem area herself recently, only to find stinky sewage flowing directly into the storm-water drain, which is supposed to be bone dry and only flowing when there is rain. Now the drain is flowing like a river… and all the sewage is going directly into the Klip River.
Residents say they are now willing to donate money towards testing the water to see how big the risk is to the environment and the people living in the vicinity of the “Stink Spruit”.
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Cllr Buys says the municipality needs to educate people so they don’t throw foreign objects into the sewer system. This causes blockages in the system, and sewer water consequently overflows into the drains and onto the streets.
Residents living along the “Stink Spruit” complain that they pay rates and want proper service delivery in return.
One person commented that, “Scarily, contaminated water is going directly into the Klip River, where fish swim and people use the water for washing their clothes. They even drink the water!”
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