Residential driveway covered in sewage as leak approaches 10 days
Overflowing sewage is a common occurrence and the resident feels increasing the width of the servicing pipes is overdue.
A torrent of raw effluent has caused a week-long stench in Fern Road.
Not for the first time, the sewage began seeping from the manhole cover in the driveway of a residential development on August 5. Immediately logged with Johannesburg Water, residents were still waiting for action nine days later. Resident André Kruger called Johannesburg Water on August 14 and to his surprise was told the problem had been resolved.
Maintenance staff at the complex had attempted to clean the mess but the incessant flow of human waste quickly resumed its takeover of the nearby curbs.
Throughout the week, the sewage had flooded decorative flower beds and verges at the entrance of the complex. A stream of toilet paper flows down to the bottom of the road and residents were even blocked from fetching their post as the sewage had flooded the postbox courtyard.
Johannesburg Water was contacted on August 14 and acknowledgement of the request for an explanation was received. The entity relayed that the inquiry would be sent to the relevant department, with a response formulated once investigated.
Andre reached out to his ward councillor, an elected official in a neighbouring ward as well as the Roodepoort depot manager yet the stench persists. Although frustrated by the unsightly leak, a greater concern for Kruger was over a week’s worth of sewage pouring into the stormwater drain and nearby river stream.
Feeling hopeless at having explored all immediate avenues, Kruger wondered out loud who else he could seek a solution from.
