Gratitude at Joburg Water employee eliminates sewage stench

Residents on the block adjacent to Northumberland Avenue in Craighall Park and in the nearby suburb of Dunkeld West, had been complaining about an intermittent sewage stink for several months.

Still stated that the smell only occurred sporadically and residents suspected that it was emanating from a storm water drain.

Eventually, at the beginning of February, Joburg Water employee Daniel Maponyane was called on to solve the problem. Maponyane is based at the Zandfontein South Depot and usually services the areas of Parktown North, Parkhurst, Craighall Park and Dunkeld West.

He spent the day investigating the layout of the drainage and sewerage pipes, and utilised a map of the area from the city’s geographical information system.

“I followed the [pipes] across [Hugh Wyndham Park] to a manhole at the corner of Kent and Jan Smuts avenues. When I opened the manhole [belonging to the water drainage system] I found that it was partially filled with raw, hard sewage,” said Maponyane.

He explained that storm water pipes were supposed to be separate from sewerage pipes, however in this case it was found that some parts of the storm water drainage system was being filled with sewage.

“I then followed the sewerage line to Hume Street and found that the benching [cement enforcement around the sewage pipes] had been damaged,” said Maponyane.

He then repaired the benching and cleared the pipes of roots to ensure that the system could carry sewage effectively.

Councillor Still said that since the repairs residents have expressed their gratitude and relief.

“What people don’t realise is that it’s not so simple. Sometimes [Maponyane] has to be like a detective and investigate problems in order to resolve their [water and sewage issues],”said Still.

Maponyane elaborated on the difficulties he experienced in his job.

“Sometimes people don’t let me in [to their properties] even when I show an identity card and drive an official vehicle, that’s when I have to contact the local ward councillors,” he said.

Councillor Still emphasised that residents should allow Joburg Water employees onto their properties to do any required, occasional maintenance work in order to prevent bigger problems in the water system developing.

“If they are unsure, they should contact the ward councillor or Joburg Water [to verify credentials of Joburg Water employees],” said Still.