Sewage odour continues to infiltrate Merebank homes

MEREBANK residents are outraged about the sewage smell which continues to infiltrate their homes. 

According to the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), over the past years, the sewage smell emanating from the Southern Waste Water Treatment Works (SWWTW) in Merebank has angered the community.

“This has been a daily problem for the few past months and weeks. Previously the awful smell was experienced but not on a daily basis as it is currently. The Merebank community members are at the receiving end of a double dose of smells from SWWTW plant, petrochemical industries and a paper mill, leaving them worrying about their health. It is totally unfair and unacceptable that ratepayers have to suffer like this, while eThekwini Municipality has no plans in resolving this health problem. Most members of the community have stated that this is happening seven days a week,” said SDCEA air quality officer, Bongani Mthembu.

In a previous peaceful protest held outside SWWTW, a resident, Sarasaathi Reddy confirmed that the sewage system in Merebank was troublesome.

“We have to keep our doors and windows closed almost every day and in summer this becomes unbearable. We can’t even enjoy our meals. We have little children exposed to these harmful gases and unpleasant smells. This is not only an inconvenience, but it is also a danger to our health now. Our area is already subject to pollution. We would appreciate if the SWWTW would make an effort to alleviate the issue.”

Mthembu added that SDCEA and a few community members have constantly engaged with the plant superintendent to complain and engage with him in efforts to understand the SWWTW’s plans in resolving this health problem.

“We have been getting responses that are not satisfactory to the affected community. We call on all the relevant eThekwini officials to expedite a solution to this matter,” he said.

Attempts to contact SWWTW for comment proved unsuccessful by the time of going to print.