Residents who live in Farmall in Kya Sand continue to endure dire stench as Watercombe Dam is rotten with sewage leaks.
Three sewage pipes from Cosmo City are leaking and spilling into the dam and this problem has not been solved since it was reported in July.
Three Rivers Resident’s Association (TRRA) chairperson Charmaine Zambetti explained that the problem is direly affecting residents.
She indicated that it was initially reported in February and nothing was done.
“The hyacinth weed is fed by raw sewage. It sucks the oxygen out of the water and kills all life in the river,” explained Zambetti.
She further added that, in February, Water Affairs promised to issue an order to Joburg Water to get sewers repaired in Cosmo City and spray the hyacinth plants in the dam.
She indicated that in her meeting with Joburg Water earlier in August, the entity confirmed that illegal backyard rentals in Cosmo City are contributing to the problem.
“They confirmed that the system designed for an number of people had to serve twice that number. Grey water with soap from shacks in Zandspruit is running down into the river (hence the foam),” concluded Zambetti.
Keith Horwood, another concerned resident, emphasised that the extent of the overgrown hyacinth in the water was obvious and needed to be removed urgently.
“We have been told that the excessive spillage of sewage into the river system at Cosmo City is causing the growth of this water hyacinth in our dams and rivers,” said Horwood.
According to residents, there is sand getting into the sewerage system, causing blockage at the Farmall sewerage pump station.
“They often send in honey-suckers to clean out their holding tanks,” he explained.
Anthony Irving complained that the dam smelt worse than it did when the fault was reported.
Joburg water spokesperson David Sibiya is yet to respond to media questions
Details: Three Rivers Resident’s Association (TRRA) 082 372 3043; Joburg Water 011 688 1577.
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