eThekwini Municipality vows to fix La Lucia sewage overflow
After recent rains, more damage occurred upstream of the rising main, but the eThekwini Municipality assured the community that contractors are currently working on-site to repair all the problems.
THE eThekwini Municipality has vowed to repair the Armstrong Avenue rising main by the end of this month.
For months, a stream of wastewater near the Armstrong Avenue wastewater pump station has formed into a pond.
The raw sewage has also created its own stream through the grassy area near the turning circle in La Lucia, and wastewater is then carried out to an outfall pipe flowing onto the beach near Saratoga Park.
Last week, residents and the ratepayers’ body met with Northglen News and voiced their anger and unhappiness over the time it’s taken the eThekwini Municipality to fix the issue as well as the impact on the environment, residents’ health and beaches.
Related story: Stream of sewage causes a stink in La Lucia
eThekwini Municipality spokersperson Gugu Sisinala gave a timeline of repairs the City has carried out already.
“The Armstrong Avenue rising main was damaged during the April and May 2022 floods. Repairs were carried out in 2022. The bad rains in January 2024 caused further extensive damage to the rising main. The temporary repairs after these rains were completed on August 13, and the pump station was put back online; the very next day, another section of this pipe ruptured, and we were forced to switch off the pumps again.
“Repairs to that section were completed on August 29. On September 5, we conducted an investigation of the pipeline after being informed by Derivco that there was an overflow into the stream where the rising main is. We found that another portion (upstream) was damaged due to the pressure exerted on the pipe. We have had more damage in the recent rains, but there is a contractor on-site, and we are hoping he will be finished at the end of November,” Sisilana said.
Ward 35 councillor Bradley Singh said he will keep residents updated on the repair process.
Also read: Water supply issues angers uMhlanga residents
“The department is making every effort to expedite this project and prevent any sewage overflow. This pump station is one of 10 that the uMngeni-uThukela Waterboard has taken over. The department is making every effort to expedite this project and prevent any sewage overflow. I will keep residents informed as I receive further updates from the department.
“I understand the frustrations of residents, and ideally, no untreated effluent should be flowing freely into the ocean. I’ve received hundreds of complaints on this issue. It not only impacts the high E. coli levels but also the fishermen who use the beach where the wastewater flows. I also want to thank the eThekwini officials from the sanitation department who have tried their best under the circumstances and with the resources they have available by adding chemicals to the wastewater ponds,” he said.
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