As soon as one sewerage problem is seemingly sorted out, another bubbles to the surface in a different part of town.
Following White River Post’s reports on problems like overflowing manholes and waste flowing through town or through properties, two residents of Magaliesberg Street in Coltshill contacted this journalist regarding their issues.
The first was an open sewer located on one of the plots, which the resident says is not connected to the municipal line, as well as an overflowing drain. The second was that sewage had been flowing into the wetland below Coltshill for the past six months. The problem has been reported to municipal officials several times but no lasting solution has been found as yet.
During a visit to one of the overflowing manholes, the resident explained that the overwhelming stench was even worse on certain days and that the property’s boundary wall had become to act as a dam wall for all the sewage.
Upon enquiry from leading players in the municipal and service-delivery scene, several responded positively and promised to highlight the problem.
Mr Rowan Torr, member of the local ward committee, said he would take it up during their monthly meeting.
Both the White River Ratepayers Association (WRRA) and newly established AfriForum branch will also take up this and other service matters. The two organisations have formed an association and WRRA chairman, Mr Piet Skead and committee member Mr Herb Bourn form part of their new committee.
AfriForum has reportedly offered to fund part of the refuse transfer station (on the municipality’s books to be built this year) which is urgently needed to make rubbish collection in town more efficient.
According to Mr Robin Clanahan, the WRRA is putting pressure on the municipality to fix the various problems and has illustrated how poorly the sewage works are currently operating.
Local councillor, Ms Trudie Morgan, cited the reason for the recent sewer reversal was that the pump was out of order. It was reportedly replaced and the problem hopefully would have been solved by Wednesday.
She also mentioned that the town’s system is getting an upgrade and that larger pipes would be installed on the line from Rustig Old Age Home, down past White River Square (Pick n Pay centre).
One of the Magaliesberg Street residents expressed his delight at the fact that the pump would be replaced and said he had visited it the past couple of days to check on the situation. He agreed with his neighbour that the pump is only part of a much greater public-health and environmental issue.
“The direct health danger to numerous households in the vicinity of the wetland in White River has been extremely high and of huge concern because of the ongoing spillage of sewage, not even to mention the potential health and general environmental risks to other communities downstream and beyond the White River municipality’s jurisdiction,” he said.
He also mentioned that he had witnessed contractors using a portable pump to pump waste directly into one of the wetland’s reed beds.
He expressed concern for the animals living in the wetlands, which come into contact with other humans and animals as they move around the area and can spread disease and contamination.
Community members are urged to report their problems to the relevant municipal departments as well as any of the above-mentioned representatives and organisations in order for them to address or take the matter further.
