Residents of Wilgeheuwel received little relief after a sewerage blockage was cleared after gushing for months on end near Shearwater Road.
According to Thys Smith, whose home, among other properties, is on the receiving end of the crisis, the sewer blockage has affected them since August, with very little success in resolving the problem.
“On 15 August, the problem was reported by at least six residents and everybody from surrounding complexes was encouraged to report the matter in order to put pressure on them (Johannesburg Water) but nothing was done,” he said.
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The Northsider then ran an article about the crisis which eventually led to action from JW. “JW came out on 18 October (a month later) to unblock the sewer. They even promised to put chemicals on the ground to prevent the sewer smell spreading into the air,” said Smith, who lamented that he currently sleeps with his fan on and windows closed due to the unbearable smell following the second blockage, less than three weeks after the repairs.
“On 3 November the drain blocked up again. This was discovered after the smell returned and we drove to the drain and saw a new overflow,” he explained.
Smith appealed to JW to get to the cause of the blockage as the problem not only causes health risks but affects animals in the river and causes damage to property. “The drain is very close to a wall and will cause it to collapse, and also sewerage gushes into the nearby river which pollutes the water and threatens the lives of the animals such as the bullfrogs,” he said.
Johannesburg Water spokesperson, Eleanor Mavimbela, responded that their depot will be doing a camera survey of the area to see what causes the blockage.
In the meantime, Smith hinted that the blockage is caused by substances put into the sewer line in the uphill areas. Ward 97 PR councillor, Ralf Bittkau, admitted that there is a problem of misuse of the sewer line; however, he urged residents to report blockages that have not been sorted out. “We have a problem with the misuse of sewer lines. i.e. in the Wigeheuwel Hospital sewer line flowing down to Eagle Canyon, we’ve found panty liners, which aren’t supposed to be in there. The same applies to shopping centres,” he explained.
He suggested that people should be educated about the cause of sewer blockages because the sewer lines have the capacity to deal with normal sewage, but are unfortunately misused.
Ralf concluded by reiterating that residents should contact him on 084 572 4002 when there is a blockage or one that is unresolved.
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