JW responds to sewage spills in Sunninghill playground
Following recent sewage spills in Sunninghill, Johannesburg Water outlines plans to address root causes and ensure the safety of community play areas.
Following the article, Sewage floods children’s park, [Week ending May 16], Johannesburg Water has responded to reports of sewage running through Kisumu Park.
Joburg Water spokesperson Nomuso Shabalala stated that the utility was fully aware of the situation and was actively working to address it.
Shabalala explained that the recent sewage leak was caused by a combination of tree root infiltration into the sewer system and the accumulation of grease and fats. “Tree roots are naturally drawn to water and organic waste in sewer pipes, and when they infiltrate the system, they can cause significant blockages,” she said.
Also read: Kisumu Park Playground hit by sewage spill again
Johannesburg Water employed jetting trucks equipped with cutting nozzles to remove roots and clear blockages. However, Shabalala noted that roots tended to grow back more aggressively after each intervention, especially in areas with mature trees planted near sewer lines.
Linda Gildenhuys, the chairperson of the Sunninghill Community Ratepayers Association, confirmed that Johannesburg Water had fixed the initial leak on May 8.
However, she pointed out that there was another leak further down the same sewer line, just outside the park, which was only repaired five days later. “We had to bring in a team at our own cost to clean and sanitise the mess left behind after the leak,” she said.
Also read: Councillor calls out JW for rotten Sunninghill excavation
To prevent recurring overflows, Johannesburg Water plans to conduct systematic cleaning of the sewer system on a quarterly basis, focusing on rodding and root removal.
Regarding the safety of the playground area, Shabalala assured the public that once sewer blockages were cleared, Johannesburg Water would undertake thorough cleaning and disinfection of the affected sites.
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