Sewer spillage into storm water system poses threat to the environment
LONEHILL– Abrahams said the sewerage spillage poses threat to the environment and water species.
In February this year, residents of Lonehill raised concerns and complained about a foul sewerage smell and constant sewer blockages in the vicinity of Lappies Park reserve which is on Concourse Crescent.
After a thorough investigation of the source of the smell by the Lonehill Residents Association (LRA) environment team, it was discovered that the smell and blockages were caused by a collapsed storm water culvert that had blocked the sewer pipe on Concourse Crescent.
Environment manager of LRA, Nadeem Abrahams said the sewerage later started to spill into the Lappies Park storm water canal which flows down to Jukskei River. “Before this issue, Lonehill was suffering regular sewer system failures where the manholes would overflow because they were blocked, once one of them would be unblocked another one further down the line would get clogged up and overflow.
“We later found out that the storm water culvert on Concourse Crescent had collapsed and the sewerage was gushing out from beneath the culvert.”
He added, “I reported this to Joburg Water on 9 March and received a reference number but nothing was done to solve the problem. The spillage continues and it poses a threat to the environment and water species.”
External communications officer at Joburg Water, Eleanor Mavimbela said, “Johannesburg Water is aware of the sewer pipe burst in the area and a contractor has been appointed to fix the collapsed pipe. They will start doing repairs very soon.”
