A serious sewer problem
Trees growing in a neighbours house have cost Southon an arm and a leg to fix a sewage pipe in his yard.
According to Blairgowrie resident Clive Southon Joburg Water has failed.
“I have had a problem with my sewer system for over the past two years. When the servitude blocks sewerage builds up and comes out of my domestic worker’s shower drain. Sewerage runsinto her room resulting in extensive cleaning to prevent a health hazard,” said Southon.
He explained that the cause of this is the tree roots penetrating the seam of the servitude and blocking the system. “The fine hair roots have to thus be removed by a plumber every time. I was informed that the trees planted on my neighbour’s are planted too close to the servitude and will cause on-going problems should they not be removed,” said Southon.
According to the 2011 Consolidated Johannesburg Town Planning Scheme no building or other structure shall be erected within the aforesaid servitude area and no large-rotted trees shall be planted within the area of such servitude or within two metres thereof, anything built near it should be removed.
Ward 102 councillor David Potter been helping Southon with this problem. “Potter has connected me with the City of Johannesburg depot who have come to see me about removing the sewage in the pipe, preventing it from blocking. They have advised this be done at least every four months”.
Southon explained the dilemma has cost him a lot of money and time, and said he was disappointed that not enough action has been taken by his neighbour who has now rented out the house. “In future I hope something positive will happen, at the moment no further action by the City Council has been taken to help me sort this problem out”. The neighbour is yet to respond.
Is assistance Joburg Water spokesperson Millicent Kabwe said, “All Johannesburg Water related queries have to be logged through the call centre, there is no query that can be attended to if there is no reference number which can only be obtained when reported through the right channels”.
Details: City of Johannesburg Call Centre: 0860-JOBURG or 0860-562-874.
