DUNDEE KZN: Municipality responds to blocked sewer system issues
You can help avoid blocking the sewer system by following these guidelines
Following the recent flooding of the Sanlam office on Union Street by sewage as a result of a blocked drain, The Umzinyathi District Municipality has issued handy tips that residents could use to help avoid blocking the sewer system.
Nkanyiso Cebekhulu, Acting Communications Manager for the District, explained that the Municipality has to clear an excessively high number of sewer blockages each year.
“On average, we attend to nearly 15 sewer blockages every month. Clearing these blockages costs us money, which could be used elsewhere for other services.”
You can help avoid blocking the sewer system by following these guidelines:
· Do not flush rags, newspapers, nappies, wipes, plastic packets, tampons, or sanitary pads down the toilet. Wrap these up and throw them in the bin.
· Do not install a food grinder in your sink – the ground bits can block sewer pipes.
· Do not throw sand, building rubble, or any other object into drains or manholes.
· Call a qualified, registered plumber to unblock sewers on your private property. Call our Technical Operation Centre if the blockage is in the street or on public land.
· Check that tree roots are not growing into your sewers.
· Check your property for illegal stormwater connections. Never let rainwater from your roof or paved areas drain into the sewerage system – this makes it easier for the sewers to flood.
· Ensure that your drains are fitted with suitable covers to prevent sand, leaves, and other foreign material from entering the sewerage system.
· Unwanted food and food scrapings belong in the bin, not down the sink, drain, or toilet. Fruit and vegetable waste and eggshells can be used to make compost.
· Wipe cooking fats, oil, or grease off pots and pans, and don’t pour them down the toilet or drain. It hardens on the inside of drain pipes and acts like glue to any objects flowing through the pipe, causing blockages. Hot water does not melt fats, oils, and grease in our drains.
Disposal of waste for businesses
“If you own a business, it is your responsibility to ensure that your business practices do not block the Municipal sanitation systems. Our sewer system is only designed to accept bodily waste, toilet paper, and sink, bath, or basin wastewater. Anything other than this can damage or block the sewer system.”
· Collect waste oil in a suitable secure container and arrange for it to be collected by local waste management.
· Install and properly maintain a grease trap if you run a restaurant or are involved in food preparation. Put a strainer in the sink to catch food or other waste before it goes down the drain, and empty the contents into the bin.
· Put a strainer in the sink to catch food or other waste before it goes down the drain, and empty the contents into the bin.
“We call on the community to work together to stop the sewer blocks by following instructions/ guidelines. To report sewer block and water leaks call 034 212 222.”
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