REPAIR work has started at the Umbango Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTWs) to urgently rectify the incidence of sewage overflow into the Umbango River.
Ugu has warned users to refrain from using the river while systems are being resuscitated for normal functionality.
“The municipality sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused to neighbouring residents by the unbearable stench which also posed possible health hazards,” said Ugu spokesman Sipho Khuzwayo.
He added that a service provider has been appointed to repair the defective clarifier which will reduce the workload on the remaining operating clarifiers and bring the situation back to normal.
“The municipality’s environmental health services team has tested water samples for bacterial contamination and tests detected that the WWTWs does account for the amount of pollution that has been entering the water course,” said Mr Khuzwayo.
He said the closure of the river mouth and the lack of rainfall had contributed immensely to the current situation which had caused for the river to settle, contributing to the unpleasant sedimentation.
Ugu will put plans in place to ensure that the spillage does not recur. These plans include system upgrades through the refurbishment of the WWTWs for increased capacity and machinery upgrades.
He urged the community to be patient while corrective measures were being put in place.
