Ward 90 councillor, Martin Williams said the delay in attending to the sewage spill in Sandhurst and Hurlingham is inexplicable and troubling considering the potential health hazard.
This comes after the councillor reported and escalated the matter to Johannesburg Water on January 31. “I escalated the matter on Monday, and again on Wednesday as the turnaround time of 24 hours had been exceeded. A team visited the site on Wednesday, but no action was taken as they had to book the equipment necessary to dig at the site of the suspected blockage.”
Johannesburg Water spokesperson, Nombuso Shabalala explained that there were various reasons why the pipes were clogged:
q Foreign objects: items that shouldn’t be flushed into sewage systems, such as wipes, sanitary products, toys, or other solid materials, can get lodged in pipes, leading to blockages. This is why customers must adhere to by-laws by not misusing the sewage system, and refrain from disposing of inappropriate and foreign materials.
q Grease and fat build-up: in kitchen drains, the build-up of grease and fat over time can restrict the flow of sewage, leading to blockages.
q Scale and mineral deposits: Over time, minerals and scale can accumulate on the inner walls of pipes, narrowing the pipe diameter and reducing flow.
Shabalala added that preventing such issues involved responsible disposal practices, and adherence to local by-laws and regulations to ensure the efficient operation of sewage systems.
“Johannesburg Water constantly raises awareness against the theft, vandalism, and misuse of the city’s water and sewer infrastructure through campaigns on our social media and other platforms. We urge customers to adhere to by-laws, which protect and safeguard the city’s infrastructure.”
She added that the property on which the sewer blockage occurred is on the same boundary as the property in question hence the spillage most probably overflowed onto this property as well.
When asked who is responsible for maintaining and addressing issues with the sewage system in the area, the spokesperson concluded that Johannesburg Water would need to first determine where the spill is coming from.
“The technical team would need to assess if the spill is situated on the side of the property that Johannesburg Water is liable for, or if it is situated on the side of the property that the customer is liable for. If the leak is on the side that the entity is responsible for, the customer would be able to approach the billing department for recourse.”
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