WHILE the damages caused by the March 15 floods are still being calculated, catastrophic weather events are increasing.

Durban mayor Cyril Xaba recently spoke to this phenomenon, saying the City is revising its flood lines to incorporate the projected climate impact of a 15% increase in rainfall intensity.

Heavy rains earlier this year caused an estimated R1.5b worth of damages to infrastructure, with damage to roads and storm water estimated at R35.6m and coastal and storm water catchment estimated at R307.7m.

The recent floods have also highlighted the importance of the stormwater drainage system.

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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 and back-ups which then lead to flooding as has been evidenced in the recent storms.

Initiatives like Enviro Fixers Durban North’s Stormwater Saturdays clean-ups were started two years ago in an effort to encourage residents to help clear any litter that may end up in the stormwater drains on their roads.

“We as residents appeal to the eThekwini Municipality to maintain, clean, and repair infrastructure. However, 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 of the environmental organisation.

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“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.”

Koch also encouraged residents to report damaged or collapsed stormwater drains as they also caused more damage.

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