Faerie Glen family bemoans delay in sewage spill repairs

The Tshwane metro is experiencing a high volume of water and sewer service complaints, causing backlogs and delays in its response time.

This as the Andrews family from Faerie Glen’s Vlakdrift Street in the east of Pretoria is calling on the metro to prioritise response time to repair sewage leakages and spillages.

The family has become concerned over their health and infrastructure deteriorating due to sewage spills.

One spillage started in their yard, but quickly spread to the street and into a nearby water drain.

According to the family, despite reporting it multiple times, the metro has blatantly ignored them.

Gerhard Andrews said sewage spillages started on November 21 under the pavement where the sewage pipes go through.

Andrews called on the metro to clean up the mess as soon as possible before it caused damage, as it is an environmental concern.

“We are frustrated and worried about our health and safety as the foul smell is unbearable.”

He said the sewage spills have been happening from time to time because of sewage pipe damage caused by tree roots under the pavement.

“Metro technicians need to open a drain cover just in the driveway of the property and clean up the sewage system.”

Andrews said he reported the matter on Thursday, November 21 around 21:00 but the following day nobody pitched to attend to the matter, not even over the weekend.

“My neighbour and I have been following up with the city and calling the customer helpline while we give them the reference [number] we got when reporting but no one is helping us.”

He said he had to hold for about 20/30 minutes for a city consultant to help but nothing is been done.

Andrews said the spillages are affecting his family and neighbours.

“We have to clean up our pavement and drive way regularly as the spillages are a danger to our health as well as the environment.

“This must be attended to as we do not know where the sewage runs into, or maybe contaminates fresh water, we don’t know, hence we need the city to help.

“I can’t open my doors or my windows because of the smell.”

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the city has a backlog of sewer blockages causing delays in the city’s response time.

He said however it is being attended to.

Mashigo said the sewer is blocked by foreign objects and non-degradable material disposed of into the municipal sewer line.

“The city is experiencing a high volume of water and sewer service requests, causing backlogs and delays in the city’s response time,” he said.

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