The Addie receives daily phone calls relating to overflowing sewerage from blocked drains, and clean drinking water flowing down the street from burst pipes.
The Ekurhuleni Metro discovered that there are several factors responsible for sewer blockages:
Increase in population
The metro has been experiencing population growth at a rate of 2.5% over the last 10 years.
The problem of population growth is particularly acute in high-density townships as there are always some backyard households not ordinarily accommodated in the design of the sewer infrastructure.
This results in massive pressure on the sewer system.
Disposal of insoluble materials
There is rampant disposal of solids and plastics in the drainage system.
Sewer blockages are caused by items such as cotton wool, rags, spoons, newspapers, clothing, and sand used for scouring, that are trapped in the system.
This abuse of the system triggers blockages and is often confirmed whenever there is a blockage, as heaps of sand is retrieved from the system.
Old infrastructure
Metro is sitting on at least R700-million worth of overdue sewer infrastructure upgrades and replacement.
The implication of having such a huge backlog is that infrastructure that has outlived its usefulness continues to render service, notwithstanding the poor service arising from the use of such infrastructure.
Vandalism of the system
A few select residents are also in the habit of stealing manhole covers for recycling and generally vandalising the infrastructure.
With the stealing of manhole covers, solids fall into the sewer, which causes sewer blockages.
Residents also throw solids and plastics directly into the manholes.
Increase in pollution
Metro continuously anticipates all infrastructure upgrades requirements and updates infrastructure upgrading plans annually.
To this end it has identified sewer upgrading and replacement programmes with a total value of R3.5-billion.
Priorities have been identified based on the frequency of pipe bursts.
Metro is actively finalising a programme to address all immediate- and medium-term infrastructure upgrading and replacement backlogs.
Notwithstanding this extensive programme, all blockages will be attended to within 48 hours, in terms of its service standards.
Response to sewer blockages
Irrespective of the many programmes and projects under way, the metro has committed to respond and resolve any pipe blockages within 48 hours.
The public is encouraged to report all incidents via the call centre by dialing 0860 543 000 for any complaints.
