Residents living near the Dan Tloome Mega City Project development are worried about the safety of their drinking water after years of sewage overflow, while the Rand West City Local Municipality works to address the issue.

Residents fear contaminated drinking water

Felicity Hunter, whose parents live in Hillside, said the family first noticed the stench from the sewage, followed by changes in their borehole water, which turned green when left standing. Over the past six months, the water quality has continued to deteriorate.

“The water is unsafe, so we have to fetch fresh water from elsewhere,” she said. “On top of that, we care for farm animals, and drinking the water has caused stomach problems, including diarrhoea, for both the family and the animals.”

Despite the issue persisting for more than two years, Felicity said she has yet to see any meaningful response from officials.

“The municipality must maintain the sewer system because this is starting to affect our drinking water and the environment,” she added.

In 2024, the Randfontein Herald reported on the problem. Resident Hennie Benson described the sewage spill as a health hazard polluting groundwater.

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“The plots will not be able to use borehole water. This is affecting the plant life and wildlife in the area,” Benson said.

Another resident, Jan Pretorius, said, “You can smell it from a mile. It is not at all pleasant to live in such conditions. At the end of the day, we won’t even be able to use our water anymore.”

Municipality investigates sewage overflow

Ward councillor Alwyn van Tonder said the sewage spill has been a concern for years, and he has raised it with the municipality, including the mayor and the sewage department.

According to Van Tonder, whenever the development’s pump station fails, sewage flows into a nearby stormwater pipe, causing overflow into an open field. This has been a consistent problem since 2022.

“The sewerage infrastructure is not adequate,” he said. “Even though the pumping station is currently functioning, it cannot keep up with the pace of the development.”

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The sewage department is investigating the pipe system to determine the cause of the overflow. Van Tonder said the issue is being prioritised, though no timeframe for resolution has been confirmed.

Municipal spokesperson Phillip Montshiwa told the Herald that the technical team was on-site on October 17 to address the problem.

During the week of October 10, authorities and ward councillors inspected the site. By October 11, the sewage flow had decreased. Van Tonder said inspections found no blockages, and the site continues to be closely monitored to prevent further contamination.