Residents of Piriet and Spanner streets in Reefhaven say they have been living with persistent sewage spills for years, with some describing the situation as unbearable and hazardous to their health.

According to these residents, sewage overflows have become a regular occurrence, often happening almost monthly. They claim repeated complaints to Johannesburg Water (JW) have yielded little lasting relief.

Herman Coetzee, who has lived in the area for 56 years, said the problem stems from the main sewer drain located in the greenbelt. He said it is blocked and broken, resulting in spills in other smaller drains in the area.

“We need a site evaluation to address the root cause of the problem. These drains have been doing this for years now. I even remember escalating this with the previous ward councillor before the current one,” he said.

Coetzee added that the main sewer flow in the greenbelt area needs to be properly opened and cleared.

“This has created an unbearable stench and poses serious health and environmental risks to residents and anyone passing through the area,” he said.

Another resident, Toniziva Mugumbate, described the situation as dangerous and frustrating, saying response times from Johannesburg Water are often slow.

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“The stench is very strong. Imagine having to drive through it just to get to your house. The service delivery as a whole is very poor because contractors just unblock the drain but never look at the root cause of the problem,” he said.

On Spanner Street, Zandile Hlaselo said sewage water frequently pools outside her gate, worsened by blocked stormwater drains in the area.

“We urgently request a thorough investigation to get to the core of this issue instead of treating it case by case, as this will make the issue far worse down the line,” she said.

JW spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala confirmed that the entity is aware of the ongoing sewage challenges in Reefhaven and said the matter has been logged and is receiving attention.

She explained that the recurring overflows are mainly caused by blockages within the sewer system.

“The blockages result from stormwater ingress during rainfall, as well as the accumulation of sand, stones, and fats, particularly from nearby businesses disposing of used cooking oil and grease into the sewer network,” Shabalala said.

While routine maintenance and clearing operations are conducted, Shabalala said the issue often returns due to factors beyond the JW’s control. These include the theft of manhole covers, which allows debris to enter the system, and the continued dumping of inappropriate waste into drains.

She said JW is working on long-term interventions, including intensified maintenance, community awareness campaigns and collaboration with stakeholders to curb illegal dumping.

“However, the success of these efforts depends largely on public co-operation.”

Residents have been urged not to flush items such as sanitary products, napkins, wipes and other solid waste into the sewer system, and to avoid disposing of animal remains into drains.

Shabalala also noted that the entity is currently facing operational challenges, including a lack of specialised equipment such as sewer cameras, which are needed to properly diagnose underlying issues. Plans are being made to address these constraints, although no clear timeline has been provided.

She added that JW is in the process of co-ordinating engagement with stakeholders in the area to address the concerns and encourage shared responsibility in protecting sewer infrastructure.