Mogale’s sewer pump nightmare: Municipality to take action
Municipality says the theft of and vandalism to municipal infrastructure is a menace.
Mogale City’s Water Services has prioritised taking steps towards the refurbishment and maintenance of non-functional sewer pump stations across the city.
Municipal efforts to manage sewage spillage into the city’s river system, close to residential areas and other areas posing major health risks are receiving the attention they require. Other areas receiving attention include the sourcing of much-needed funds, supply chain-compliant fast-tracked procurement, and the appointment of a service provider to take on multiple projects.
According to Mogale City’s communications officer Refilwe Mahlangu, for a few years, several sewage pump stations located across the municipality have been non-functional largely due to a lack of maintenance from past contracted service providers, failed project management oversight, and infrastructure vandalism.
“The bulk of the required maintenance which requires specialist skills, equipment, and other resources was done by a contractor whose contract came to an end. The municipality confirmed that moving forward, the required delivery of service, quality of work, and performance monitoring required will not just see cost-cutting but also accountability, transparency, and ensuring services paid for are delivered with the work done.”
Considering the threats posed to animal life, biodiversity, and human health, Mahlangu said the following four major sewage pump stations have been targeted for refurbishment and maintenance within the current 2023/ 24 financial year ending June 30:
• Munsieville – Munsieville Ext 4
• Muldersdrift – Rietfontein Village
• Muldersdrift – eThembalethu
• Magaliesburg – Ga Mohale
In addition to these four major sewage pump stations that are set for completion and operation between, the remaining smaller sewage pump stations will be targeted for refurbishment and maintenance in the new forthcoming financial year spanning July 1 to June 30, 2025:
• Magaliesburg – Hilltop and River
• Rietvallei – Rietvallei Ext 1 and Lusaka
• Mindalore – Royal Cradle 1 & 2 (affected due to vandalism – cable theft) and Adam Street
• Noordheuwel – Bush Street
• Chancliff – Chancliff Estates
• Munsieville sewer pump station
“Upon the appointment of a service provider on March 4, the Munsieville sewer pump station site handover took place days thereafter and work is currently underway. On March 7, work to empty the pump chamber and sump commenced and the municipal personnel blocked off the sewer pipeline outside the pump station to make way for trucks to empty into the sump and chamber.
“While Water Services acknowledges that this process was unpleasant for adjacent residents who raised their displeasure at the time, it was the only way to gain access to the sewer pipeline and complete the work. Additional work at the sewer pump station is still underway.”
Mahlangu continued to say the most affected pump stations and issues to be resolved include:
• The Brickvale residential settlement sewer pump station
“Although forming part of the housing development currently under construction, this pump station is also on the list of non-functioning pump stations in the city, stemming from vandalism after the pump and electrical components were stolen. As the work is linked to the residential construction work for the residential area, the contractor for the required pump station repair work is already on site and visible advances are being made on sludge removal. The pump should be fully restored, tested, and operational by the end of May. Once completed, the sewer pump station will be formally handed over to the Department of Infrastructure Development for future maintenance work.”
• The Rietvallei sewer pump station
The Rietvallei Ext 5 sewer pump station is sub-merged under underground water and a specialist task team comprising Mogale City, Johannesburg Water, Rand Water, the National Department of Water and Sanitation, Harmony Mining and Bigen Consulting Engineers has convened to investigate and deal with this pendant challenge.
• Dealing with vandalism and theft of municipal infrastructure
Mahlangu emphasised that theft of and vandalism to municipal infrastructure (where the municipality keeps on repairing vandalised infrastructure at high costs to keep our facilities fully operational) is a menace.
“Having also added additional guarding services, the vandalism currently experienced seems to be a very well-orchestrated attack on our facilities where the perpetrators do so heavily armed pushing the municipality to consider more serious interventions to curb, which are, however, quite costly.
“Considering past encounters and for purposes of transparency, it may be useful to indicate that our current focus includes the inspection and assessment of four sewer pump stations, with status updates and emergency interventions projected for the end of April this year. Additionally, the unblocking of outfall sewers is scheduled to be completed by April/ May. Repair and refurbishment work has commenced, alongside project planning, management, implementation, and reporting on each pump station. Weekly site inspections and assessments are also conducted before payments are disbursed.”
While the municipality has put measures in place for improved contract management, accountability, and internal operational efficiency, current operational sewage pump stations will be serviced as part of this scope of work.
Furthermore, resources for long-term maintenance of the pump stations will form part of a bigger plan for the improved management and operation of the city’s network of sewage pump stations.
