Alberton – Sewage overflows can no longer be ignored or made off as a once-off problem here and there in Alberton.
The RECORD has been inundated with complaints about drains spilling raw sewage into back yards, streets and complexes in almost all residential areas including Eden Park. An even greater concern from residents is the health implications these spills hold to all residents.
Among the newest complaints are the constant re-occurring spills in Alrode and Alrode South, Villa Daniella in Meyersdal and the spill from a residential property overflowing into the Bracken Library’s grounds, and from there into the streets.
Brackendowns is not untouched by the problem and closer to Kliprivier Road residents are plagued with a constant stench. Eden Park is riddled with blocked drains and many residents have complained about the health risk it poses to small children playing nearby.
A businessman in Alrode said that although the blocked drains are being fixed, there is just no permanent solution. “One such spill was cleaned on July 5, but we know it is just temporary.”
Councillor Estelle Visser escalated the Alrode problem and a team was dispatched to fix the problem. As far as the areas for Ward Councillor Basch is concerned, he stated that: “This and many other sewer-related problems have been plaguing the metro for quite some time now. I have asked the department to assess what the problem is and to investigate the solution moving forward. I am still waiting for their report, but will continually monitor the progress of this.”
Residents in Villa Daniella is ready for a fight. With sewage on their doorsteps, toilets that can’t be flushed and a Metro that seems to just not care, they don’t know where to turn anymore. The problem in the complex has been reported by Coleman Properties and many of the residents – yet, no solution to the problem. The first complaint was logged on May 28 by Coleman Properties. Thereafter it was reported five more times by Coleman Properties with follow-up calls for each reference number. Metro solved the problem between Friday and Sunday.
The RECORD contacted the Metro to comment on the following questions:
* Why is sewerage such a huge problem in Alberton?
* What would a permanent solution be to stop the constant overflows?
* Is there a possibility that this is due to bad planning when developments just get the go-ahead?
* Can the old system handle the influx of all the new townhouses in the area?
Metro’s comment pertaining to Villa Daniella:
This area was developed and infrastructure taken over by council in April 2005. At that time all sewers were tested and inspected by council and functioning well. Since then the property owners started to develop and on stand 2258 they filled the whole stand next to the boundary over our main sewer with about three meters building rubble. Manholes Alb_00794, Alb_00795 and Alb_00753 are totally covered and it seems that the sewer mainline was re-laid without manholes.
Recently the line started to block regularly and we always managed to unblock it with a Jet truck. On 10/04/2014 this was given to a contractor to identify the lines and possible broken pipe with a CCTV camera. We are trying to keep the sewer flowing as far as possible until we can eventually rectify the problem. With rods and Jet truck soil is coming out of the line, indicating a broken pipe. The sewer is more than five meters deep in filling material, making it impossible for hand excavation because of the safety of the workers. At this stage we must determine the position and depth of the line before we can start excavation. We have engaged with the body corporate of the owners of the stand and we have their support in the work.
In the metro’s comment on images of the site were attached to indicate the problem.
Comment on sewage problems in general:
EMM notified the RECORD that they are addressing the above questions related to sewage problems in general and those will be addressed in a follow-up article in our next edition.
I live in Brackendowns in Andries st and have sewage running through my back yard for 4 days now
I have made at least 10 calls to ekuruleni but still have had no response. All they can do is escalate the problem
We have been promised a plumber on Saturday at 14:00 but nobody rocks up
I have made at least 5 calls today and all promise to call back but one again nothing
Can we get our own plumbers in and bill ekuruleni
This is a huge health risk for my 18 month old baby