Even though the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) is making efforts to pump sewage water from residential streets to the sewage farm, community members are concerned that the matter will only escalate due to the non-functional sewage stations.
Multiple sewer lines have since been blocked, causing residential streets to overflow with sewage.
DA board member Tewie Botha expressed his concern about maintenance regarding the sewerage system. He has also sent many reports to the municipality’s sewer department claiming that almost 40 streets are currently overrun with sewage water. Streets affected include Wildebeest, Steenbok, Nerine Cres, Tier, Rietbok, Luiperd, Aloe, and more.
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In Botha’s recent report, he urged immediate assistance and stated that the request has been repeated more than 200 times with no results.
Botha further mentioned that the matter harbours concerning troubles for residents. Not only are residents’ swimming pools filling up with sewage but toilets are overflowing in homes, gardens are being drenched and the tarred streets are crumbling from constant exposure to fluids.
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The municipality has hired contractors to pump the sewage water out of the streets to the sewage farm and contractors removed the sewage in Aloe Street today, February 6. However, residents are still greatly concerned about the fact that the sewage pumping stations in the area are out of order.
“Eleven pumps in the area were vandalised more than a year ago. As soon as we empty one pumping station, it quickly blocks up again and overflows. Last year, the municipality hired a ‘jetmaster’ from Krugersdorp to open the system. It was quickly blocked again after that. As long as pumping stations are not repaired, maintained, and secured, as well as fitted with appropriate equipment, the residents of Ward 9 will live in sewage,” Botha stated.
Greenhills resident Frans le Grange is also concerned about the vandalised stations.
“More than 300 complaints have been reported but the station is still out of order. When the sewage water is pumped, the water just sits in the field. This is mere pollution,” Le Grange said.
