Residents encouraged to tackle stormwater drain clean-ups

IN recent years the increase in torrential rain patterns which also leads to floods have shown how important the stormwater drainage system is.

Stormwater drains help divert excess water running from buildings, roads and homes and one of the things that hampers the flow of the excess water is litter, sand and leaves.

Litter in stormwater drains can cause clogs, backups which then lead to flooding as has been evidenced in the recent storms.

Also read: Three confirmed dead after heavy rains across Durban

To combat this, an environmental group, Enviro Fixers Durban North, began an initiative dubbed Stormwater Saturdays to help clear any litter that may end up in the stormwater drains and to encourage residents to do the same on their roads and areas.

“We as residents appeal to the eThekwini Municipality to maintain, clean, and repair infrastructure. But we also encourage all residents to report broken and blocked stormwater drains to prevent flooding. Flooding is dangerous for so many reasons and over long term leads to failure of road surface as well as many other problems,” said Helen Koch.

“What worked so well when we first proposed the Stormwater Saturday clean-ups was installing civic pride, on a practical level. You can be proactive about preventing blockages and on a larger scale stopping litter from entering our ocean. Residents can also help by keeping their roads clear of litter and debris and periodically checking as part of your road safety and security that the drain is clear. We all play our part as active citizens.”

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Koch’s comments carry some weight as this week, eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba, addressed members of the executive committee on Tuesday (March 18) saying the frequency and intensity of floods, as a result of climate change, poses a huge risk to human lives and infrastructure.

“Since 2017, the city has been experiencing recurring floods and this has put a huge strain on our water drainage system. In eThekwini, stormwater systems are designed to handle a 1-in-10-year storm event. Our large canals and river protection works are built to withstand 1-in-50 or 1-in-100-year storm events.

“In the last two months, we have been experiencing heavy downpours that we would ordinarily receive in every 20-40 years. It is in this context that we must continue to urge members of the community to dispose waste in designated places so that during the heavy rains, the same waste must not clog our drainage system and flood our homes,” he said.

Xaba added the recent flood damages are estimated at R1.5 billion.

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