THE cause of a recent sewage outfall into the Little Amanzimtoti River’s estuary next to Baggies Beach is the foreign matter that is discarded into the sewerage system by residents.

Also read: South beaches close due to high levels of E. coli

This was said by councillor André Beetge as the outfall caused E. coli levels to rise, leading to the closure of the nearby Doonside Beach on October 16.

Beetge said that over the past weekend, maintenance work was done on the Somerset Way pump station, and the initial outfall had been as a result of the tankers not keeping up with the inflow.

“When you work on a pump station, you take away the inflow with the tankers. That outfall was resolved over the weekend, and on October 14, the outflow was reported from a pipe in front of Baggies Beach into the river,” said Beetge.

Upon investigation, it was found that the pump’s shaft had sheered as a result of contaminants, which were predominantly rags and fat in the sump. Beetge said the pump was installed less than two years ago and thus still relatively new.

“We are looking to replace the pump and clean the sump. This is contamination by residents, not a lack of maintenance. They discard materials that should not be in the system, including nappies, sanitary pads, hard paper and clothing,” he said.

Residents were asked to discard their waste accordingly and not flush it down the toilet or the drain.

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