Sewer-smells to ease as project draws to a close
Bernadotte Street sewer line replacement project almost complete.
Breathing fresh-smelling air will soon be a reality for residents of Bernadotte Street, and Kingsway High and Kuswag pupils.
Several months ago, unexplained sink holes started appearing along Bernadotte Street.
Numerous complaints from residents and principals, and an investigation by ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge resulted in tests that established a section of the existing sewer line, running along Bernadotte and gravity-fed into the Umdoni pump station, to have collapsed.
A Section 36 application had to be made for the release of emergency funding to accommodate the repair.
A 400m section of the Bernadotte sewer line had to be replaced with a new line that runs parallel in Kuswag Road, serviced between the Umdoni and Commercial roads pump stations.
Cllr Beetge confirmed the project is now two to three weeks from completion. “The new pipeline is in its final stage, whereafter it will be subjected to various leak tests prior to final covering.
The tie-in of the new into the existing line will be done during the night with minimal disruption of resident routine.”
The line will be shut down at about 10pm, whereafter six tankers will pump out the line. “This should be complete by midnight, at which time the bend will be installed to connect the new line into the existing line below the damaged section in Bernadotte Road, rendering the system usable by 6am.
The damaged line will remain buried as it is not cost effective to remove.”
Beetge further confirmed there is an increasing demand on infrastructure and there are future plans in place to accommodate an additional pump station to service the Bernadotte and Kuswag line, to reduce pressure on the Commercial and Hutchison roads pump stations that also service Beach Road.
