Another sewage spill at The Block
The chairperson of the Umbango River Conservancy, Morgan Naidoo, said sewage flowed into the sea after the pump station was vandalised last weekend.
Raw sewage flowing into the sea at The Block in Port Shepstone has once again raised concerns, especially for fishermen.
The chairperson of the Umbango River Conservancy, Morgan Naidoo, said sewage flowed into the sea after the pump station was vandalised last weekend.
“Tourists visit this area, and it is a popular fishing spot. The gate to secure the pump station is lying on the ground, with no razor wire and no security,” said Naidoo.
He suggested that Ugu display contact numbers on the building in case of a malfunction.
Naidoo also spoke about sewage in the Umbango River and its tributaries. The Conservancy has been engaging with Ugu since 2011 with regard to sewer infrastructure and upgrading of sewer lines.
“Damaged sewer pipes are being repaired but temporarily. Pump stations are being vandalized, floods wash away sewer pipes, stormwater gushes into sewer pipes causing overflows, and we have breakdowns at the sewerage plant. Also, sewer manholes have no covers, a real hazard at The Block,” he said.
Local fisherman Eckhardt Potgieter said the smell is horrendous. “Sewage from this pump station flows into the ocean and affects our recreational activity and our sea life. Ugu needs to fix this problem.”
France Zama, the spokesperson of Ugu, confirmed that vandalism occurred at pump station 1 last Saturday.
“The site was reinstated, and the pump station became operational on Sunday. Security services were also involved to attend to the case of vandalism and security at the site. The pump station is part of the Umbango system, and a submission was made to the management committee to secure capital funding for refurbishment,” said Zama.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
