Foreign objects cause of recurring sewage blockages
Recurring drainage blockages continue to frustrate residents across the Northside area.
After another sewage blockage in the Northside greenbelt was recently cleared, sanitary pads inside the stormwater channel were reportedly found, suggesting foreign objects are being flushed into the sewer system and contributing to the recurring blockages.
Resident Arnold van der Merwe is concerned over recurring sewage overflows in the greenbelt, warning that the ongoing problem is affecting the environment, public health and security in the area.
Van der Merwe said blockages have occurred every few months since 2016. He said the problem often starts when drains near Palmilla Estate become blocked, causing raw sewage to overflow into the stormwater system running through River Bushwillow Estate and into the greenbelt.
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The latest incident occurred last week.
“There was plenty of sewage flowing through the river into the greenbelt,” said Van der Merwe.
Van der Merwe said previous unblocking operations uncovered items including underwear, sanitary pads and clothes hangers lodged in the pipes.
He said the repeated spills have caused persistent foul odours and damaged the surrounding environment. One of the worst incidents reportedly occurred behind The Campus Estate, where sewage collected in large pools inside the greenbelt.
“The blockage behind The Campus in the greenbelt was pools and pools of sewage,” he said.
He also claims the sewage and rubble have restricted access for security vehicles in parts of the greenbelt, potentially affecting patrols and emergency response times.
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Multiple complaints have been logged with the City of Johannesburg and Johannesburg Water (JW), but response times remain inconsistent. Van der Merwe alleged that one blockage had been marked as resolved while sewage was still flowing into the greenbelt.
“I went out to the greenbelt and found the blockage was still ongoing and relogged it,” he said.
JW spokesperson Senzo Khoza attributed many of the recent overflows to increased pressure on the sewer system following heavy rainfall. Additional causes include stormwater incorrectly connected to sewer lines, foreign objects dumped into manholes, and fats and grease hardening inside pipelines during winter.
JW urged residents not to flush foreign objects down drains and to ensure stormwater systems on private properties are not connected to sewer infrastructure.
Van der Merwe is now calling for regular inspections and stronger preventative measures, warning that the recurring sewage spills continue to affect the quality of life in surrounding communities.
