CHDM SPEAKS ON SANITATION CHALLENGES

THE Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) deals with more than 200 water leaks and blockages of the sanitation system in the municipal area a week.

CHDM spokesman Thobeka Mqamelo, reacting to queries from The Rep following a number of complaints, said reasons for blockages were varied including vandalism and theft of infrastructure where, for example, manhole covers were stolen and allegedly sold as scrap metal.

This allowed in sand and other debris which blocked the system. The municipality was replacing these manhole covers with non-metal lids.

There was also a tendency to dump foreign objects in the system which caused huge problems. Items such as rocks, furniture, car parts and dead animals were often found and affected the flow.

It took time to resolve blockages as was recently the case in Ezibeleni where rods and a jetting machine were ineffective and the area had to be excavated for the blockage to be cleared.

To heighten awareness, education programs were conducted and monitoring and site inspections done to improve early detection and response time.

Regarding leaks at Amatola Close and near Laerskool Hangklip, Mqamelo said excavation had to be undertaken to resolve the problem near Hangklip, and in Amatola Close it was found construction had been done on top of a sewerage line, hindering plumbers from reaching the point where a leak had to be repaired. It had since been resolved to divert the sewerage line and plans had been obtained from EMLM.

New Rest resident Gale Redcliffe said she had had a sewage leak near her home for months and despite reporting it to the local authorities, it continued.

“There is ongoing leakage at the drain and the stench is so bad that I no longer open the kitchen door. Our sceptic tank lid fell into the tank and raw sewage is exposed. I live with children and a dog. I worry that they might drown in the tank.”

CHDM had taken over the former WSSA staff, vehicles, functions and equipment last year. She said workers, including skilled ones, were absorbed to ensure smooth service.

“To make certain that CHDM was equal to the task we resourced the function by purchasing a new fleet (trucks, sewerage trucks, bakkies and excavators), towards the end of 2017 and concluded tender processes for two jetting machines [specialised trucks] worth more than R3-million that will assist a great deal.”