Sewage problems getting worse
Human faeces found in resident’s backyard.
Everybody wants answers and it seems as if the sewage problems are getting worse.
In almost every street there is sewage flowing from manholes, leaving an unbearable stench.
AfriForum refers to this as an environmental disaster.
The Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation (DWS) has presented an action plan to AfriForum to bring an end to the sewage spillage in natural water resources in Secunda and surrounding areas.
The action plan was compiled in cooperation with the Govan Mbeki Municipality and confirms a sewage crisis.
Govan Mbeki Municipality explained that they have been giving more attention to the responsibility of re-doing, refurbishing and expanding of the network and treatment of plants and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and the Department of Water are aware and supportive of this effort.
The action plan comes after AfriForum placed the DWS on terms on 7 August 2015 to force them to intervene urgently.
AfriForum visited various sewage spillage problem areas with the DWS and representatives of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in order to determine the extent of the spillage and to put an action plan on the table.
Mr Bheki Kubheka from the Govan Mbeki Municipality said: “We are worried about the vandalism of pump stations and the depositing of foreign materials in the sewer network that remain a problem.
“Motor and electrical panels are being stolen at an alarming rate, and this affects the normal operation of the pump stations.
“According to the action plan, three extensive projects will be launched with immediate effect.”
“Extension 18’s sewage pump station will be upgraded.
“The pumps and motors in Extension 22 will be restored and in the third project, sewage pipes will be replaced with wider pipes which will alleviate the burden on the sewage network,” said Mr Hein Gonzales, provincial coordinator of AfriForum in Mpumalanga.
The DWS allocated R30 million to upgrade the sewage purification plant of the town over the next three financial years.
This plant has been out of order for some time and sewage flowing into the plant is pumped out and in its unpurified state into rivers and the field.
“This problem is a disaster for the area’s residents and can unfortunately not be solved overnight.
“What is worrying, is that the municipality is aware of the fact that the sewage disaster could have long term effects.”
Residents are fed up and worried.
No straight forward answers are given and it seems as if the problem is only getting worse.
The municipality explained that the replacements items stolen and damaged are placing a huge financial strain on the expenses of the municipality, and it is not sustainable going forward.
Also, if this situation continues unabated, it has the potential for a catastrophic waterborne disease epidemic, which is too costly to contemplate.
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