MUST READ: Blockages wreak havoc on Allen Street

Bubbling sewage has business owners holding their noses.

For nearly two months, blockages have caused effluent to ebb from beneath a manhole cover on Allen Street, sending waste water gushing into a nearby storm water drain.

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One resident took to social media recently to vent his frustration.

He said that with six (now seven) weeks of raw sewage flowing into the storm drain, it was no wonder the Ncandu River looked as it did.

The matter was subsequently reported to the municipality.

In an official response by email, officials stated the problems experienced on Allen Street were due to the sewer line being blocked with fat from nearby takeaways and restaurants.

“These businesses are supposed to have fat traps which separate fat from their sewer discharge. These fat traps are required to be maintained and this is obviously not being done.”

According to the municipality, a local high pressure cleaning service provider was procured to pressure clean the pipe, during which large amounts of solid fat were removed.

This exercise worked for two days only, before the blockage reoccurred.

The municipality has since promised to have the Health Inspector address those believed to be responsible for the blockages.

However, another problem remains the pipeline itself.

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“The pipeline is made of pitch fibre and is also prone to collapsing. It is on the list of pipes requiring urgent attention with the pipe replacement program.”

The municipality said replacing the pipe depended on the availability of funding and the priority setting of the many problem areas.

“The blockage will be addressed again as a matter of urgency once the fat traps have been rectified, as the cost of the high pressure cleaning service is very high to last for just two days.”

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