No answers from municipality as sewage spill crisis in Dalpark Ext 1 worsens
The situation in Dalpark Ext 1 poses a serious public health emergency and environmental hazard.
Despite being a serious health hazard that requires immediate intervention, the City of Ekurhuleni appears to have turned a blind eye to a severe sewage spill in Dalpark Ext 1.
According to residents, a broken sewage pump is the cause of the critical issue which has been ongoing since March. A broken sewage pump can cause a spill when the pump fails to move wastewater, leading to blockages and overflows in the system.
Residents have also claimed that the pumps at the sewer pump station in the suburb were supposed to be upgraded two years ago but the project was cancelled.
Despite repeated attempts by many residents to have the issue resolved, the situation has escalated into a serious health and environmental hazard.
One of the worst affected properties is located along Lanyard Road, at the home of Veronica Partridge, where the main sewage drain in the backyard is completely blocked.
There is raw sewage overflowing on the property, saturating the garden and flowing into the nearby dam. The Van Dyk Dam, which is fed by the Rietspruit, is located within the bird sanctuary inside the suburb.
According to Partridge, her pets and grandchildren are unable to safely use the outdoor space, and her home is filled with the unbearable stench of sewage.
The home’s bathroom facilities are also unusable due to sewage backing up through the showers and baths, and a bedroom has been flooded twice, causing water damage to wood furnishings and cupboards.
Many other households are similarly affected, with sewage pushing up into tubs and toilets, and yards and even garages flooded.
Partridge complained that the municipality has done nothing to address this urgent issue, which poses not only a direct threat to her family’s health and safety, but also to the environment, given that waste is contaminating local water sources.
She has also had private plumbers out on three occasions, but they confirmed the blockage lies within the main municipal line, making it impossible for them to resolve the issue privately.
The Brakpan Herald requested comment from the City of Ekurhuleni on April 11 and again on April 23 with no response received.
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