Spartan pump station repaired – CoE

According to the City of Ekurhuleni, the Spartan pump station had only been out of service for three weeks.

This comes after allegations were made that the pump station had been nonfunctional for six months
After identifying pollution in the wetland last June, Dr Irwin Juckes of Edenvale River Watch sought the source, leading him to the pump station found off Vuurslag Avenue.

When Bedfordview and Edenvale News met with Dr Juckes in January he said the problem had not been resolved.

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This was evident by the volume of wastewater flowing out of the municipal property via a manmade trench, which appeared to have been purposefully dug as a temporary solution to alleviate the amount of sewage on the property.

City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the pump station ceased to function because of vandalism and two burst pipes.

“Vandalism occurred on November 18, resulting in the pump cable cut and stolen. The issues were resolved and the pump station has been brought back to service and is operational,” said Dlamini.

“The overflowing sewerage was also resolved.”

He said electric panels, motors and pumps are meant to be operational at the pump station.

To alleviate the impact the pump station has on the surrounding wetland, Dlamini said a long-term place is in place.

“The plan is to phase out the pump station and replace it with a gravity pipeline that would drain the flow into the Illiondale outfall sewer line.”

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When questioned about the man-made channel near the pump station, Dlamini said the channel was not dug by the city and hence could not comment on the matter.

Dlamini said in light of this information he said the city shall investigate it further.

He said vandalism remains a challenge. “It negatively affects the operational budget.”