Gillooly’s Farm was plagued by sewage on November 4 as a result of a leak from a blocked pipe … killing fish and causing a bad odour in the air.
Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys said water and sanitation employees brought in a jet truck on November 4 to clear the blockage.
She said environment, waste and water and sanitation departments were all actively involved in the cleaning up process.
“It is like the Niagara Falls of sewage,” said Humphreys.
She said her main focus now was to get it all cleared up.
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Humphreys said nobody reported the problem and as a result it turned into a bigger issue.
“The community needs to know that this happens if things go unreported,” said Humphreys.
She said that, as result of the sewage, many fish died and animals have moved to the other side of the lake.
Humphreys said that bio remediation will be done to by the water and sanitation department to clean the water of the sewage sludge.
She said Gilloolly’s is in need of a tenant like the previous tenant of Mississippi Blue, Graham Dixon.
She said he looked after the animals and the environment at Gillooly’s.
Humphreys said in the meantime, without a tenant, Gillooly’s Farm has degraded.
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“Disaster is allowed to happen and the department responsible is relying on the community reaction and therefore giving up on any responsibility,” said Humphreys.
The combination of the rain and the bio remediation has cleared the sludge as updated by Humphreys on November 7.
Water quality manager for Ekurhuleni, Smuts Marais, was on site and said the blockage could be a result of stormwater flow.
“The investigation will continue as to the cause of the blockage. Cameras will be sent into the lines and evidence will be gathered and analysed,” said Humphreys.
The NEWS sent a request to the City of Ekurhuleni on November 7, asking for comment by November 8 at 1pm.
At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
