Sewage spews into Port Edward estuary
The sewage flows through resident, Kim Sismey's garden from a pump station which is situated at the top of his property.
More than 15 days and counting, and raw sewage has poured into the Port Edward estuary which then flows onto Port Edward beach.
Resident Kim Sismey is at his wits end about the ongoing breakdown of the pump station, which is situated at the top of his property.
Sismey, who has lived in Port Edward for some 40 years has a paper trail of correspondence and photographs of the unmaintained pump station dating back to 2011.
“My file gets thicker and thicker and nothing gets done with one excuse after another.”
Sismey has visited the mayor’s/municipal manager’s office three times in the last three weeks in the hope to get an appointment with either of them.
On most occasions, he has sat more than a hour waiting, but has had no luck in seeing anyone or coming close to getting any answers.
Ugu District Municipality spokesperson France Zama responded by confirming that the municipality is in the process of repairing a pump at Port Edward No.2 sewage pump station, after a breakdown occurred due to electric surge associated with loadshedding.
“We expect repairs to be fully completed by the end of next week. VTS trucks are being used to minimise spillage. Samples have also been sent to the lab for testing.”
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality spokesperson, Simon April said they have been made aware of the sewage issue by the district municipality, and it is being attended to.
On the back of what has happened in eThekwini with critical E.coli levels keeping most of the city’s beaches closed for a lengthy period – the South Coast needs to keep its pump stations operating, especially during the holiday season.
Zama said the municipality can reassure residents that beaches will remain open during the festive season.
April added that: “In as far as beaches are concerned, visitors flock to enjoy our beaches every season. We always undertake to ensure that they enjoy our amenities in a safe and healthy environment.”
Ward Councillor Ward 1, Stephanie Breedt said the water at Port Edward main beach was tested on October 6 at 100 ppm and on October 11 at 500ppm. She confirmed that this is within the maximum limit of 500ppm for human recreational use.
The Herald asked if Breedt felt Ugu District Municipality and RNM could keep pump stations running and beaches open?
Breedt said both institutions are well aware of the long-standing maintenance backlogs, the regular system failures and the serious impacts these have on the lives of locals and tourists, and our local economy.
“Neither institution has made available an official plan to mitigate the risks and threats to people and businesses for the coming festive season. It is a question which the management and leadership at these institutions must answer so that we have some peace of mind that the season will not end up in a similar crisis to what we have experienced in the past,” she said.
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