In recent years the smell of raw sewage has plagued the community of Highway Gardens.
The smell which lingers in the air can often be smelt by community members in the late afternoon and early evening.
Over the years, the NEWS has reported on concerns from residents about raw sewage in the area.
In August 2016, Highway Garden’s resident Angi Collins handed a petition to councillor Tiziana Plaskitt (Ward 92), hoping the problem would be resolved.
Despite the community’s petition, consisting of over 280 signatures, the smell of sewage remained.
The source of the odour can be traced to a grey liquid flowing out of stormwater pipes and into an open servitude parallel to Kruin Street.
When the NEWS visited the servitude on May 30 Plaskitt said the stench of sewage had been a problem for the area for the past nine years.
She was alerted to the return of the smell a few weeks ago by community members.
Plaskitt believes the source of the sewage is in the Isando area in Kempton Park.
She said because the stormwater infrastructure is underground it is difficult to locate where the sewage is coming from.
Also read: Raw sewage leaves a stink as resident fears for the health of his family
“I have brought the matter to the attention of the City of Ekurhuleni but little has been done about it,” said Plaskitt.
“I was told by municipal workers that they are aware of the problem and are looking for the source of the sewage.”
Until the source is found, the situation will be monitored by the CoE.
Plaskitt believes old and damaged infrastructure is to blame for sewage leaking into the servitude.
“The sewerage infrastructure is breaking, it cannot cope with the volume,” said Plaskitt.
According to neighbouring Ward 18 councillor Heather Hart, the sewage from Klopper Park is flowing into the rest of Edenvale.
Hart’s biggest concern is that the sewage is flowing into Horwood’s Farm.
“The community has put in a lot of effort to clean and improve Horwood’s Farm,” said Hart.
“This sewage will make the park stink, it’s absolutely disgusting.”
Also read: Raw sewage leak in Highway Gardens attended to
Hart believes the polluted water can pose a health risk to the community.
Plaskitt said unless the area receives heavy rain, the sewage will remain trapped in the servitude until the rainy season.
A request for comment was sent to the CoE on May 31 requesting comment by June 1.
At the time of going to print no comment had been received.
