South Hills-based residents are tired of the smell from the blocked drain

A BLOCKED drain has been a concern to Attwell Court residents.

The South Hills-based residents are at their wits’ ends because the drain has had a bad smell.

They said it has been so bad that they haven’t had proper sleep, and had to bear with the smell since 2017.

The drain blockage causes faeces to come out, which run freely with the water coming from the drain.

Residents fear for the health of children and elderly people.

Lee-Ann Pillay said the drain is in front of her unit and every time she enters into the kitchen she smells the drain.

“My children always cough and get sick because of the smell. It’s hard to breathe in these conditions, more especially to eat.

“One can’t even invite friends over because they will be exposed to such experience,” said Pillay.

Residents told the COURIER they’ve contacted the councillor, Faeeza Chame, and she promised them that she will contact relevant people to solve the issue, but they are still waiting.

Another resident, Ursula Njoko, said, “We need the councillor to help us with this horrible mess. All we need is the repairing of the pipes and the walls to get painted because this mess has damaged the walls badly.”

Chame said she referred the matter to the maintenance department. “Residents themselves cause this blockage because they throw unwanted elements in the drain. Residents should be more responsible and try to keep the drainage system open and don’t let sanitary pads, newspapers or foodstuff go through the piping.”

How to get rid of blocked drains?

Boiling Water: For a quick and easy fix for your blocked drains, try pouring a pot of boiling water into the drain. In many cases, this is enough to loosen or dissolve the blockage without having to resort to more drastic measures.

Only use this method on metal or ceramic pipes, as the heat can loosen joints on PVC pipes.

For PVC pipes, use hot, not boiling, tap water instead. This method can be effective on grease or food build-up, but it is unlikely to work for solid blockages.

DIY Natural Cleaner: You can create a DIY drain cleaner using bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and white vinegar. Simply pour the bicarb into the drain, followed by the vinegar.

Cover the drain to prevent the mixture from bubbling out of the pipe. The chemical reaction between the bicarb and vinegar produces oxygen, which scours the inside of the pipes, clearing them out.

You may need to repeat the process a few times to get rid of the blockage entirely.

Once the mixture has worked its way through the blockage, flush your pipes with hot water to remove any remaining residue.

Caustic Cleaner: You can purchase caustic chemical drain cleaners at your local hardware store or supermarket.

These chemicals are capable of dissolving grease, hair, food and other common blockages.

However, they are harmful to the environment and should be used sparingly.

Caustic cleaners will not work on solid masses, like tree roots or small household items.

Always protect your hands and face when working with chemical cleaners, and flush your pipes with water afterwards to get rid of any lingering chemicals.

Plunger: A plunger can clear a blocked drain just as it can clear a clogged toilet. Be sure to cover any overflow spouts before you begin plunging so you can get a strong seal. The up-and-down pressure created by the plunger can help to loosen any blockages so your pipes can flow smoothly once again. Plunging is most useful for solid blockages, but it is not very effective on grease build-up and mineral deposits.

Tips provided by Isaac Dhludhlu, communications manager of Johannesburg Water.