Sewage spillages crisis
Continuous vandalism and theft cause blockages, damage
The Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) has attributed the scourge of sewage spillages across the district to continuous acts of vandalism at its sewage treatments works, and the dumping of foreign objects into manholes.
Continuous theft and vandalism at water and sanitation treatment works were causing huge damage, CHDM reported.
This includes the stripping of metal manhole covers, strainers, illegal water connections, and the theft of screens and cables from electrical panels at various pump stations.
CHDM mayor Wongama Gela said the escalation of criminal acts had an adverse effect on revenue collection and significantly increased the municipality s operation and
’ maintenance costs.
“The continued acts of vandalism taking place in Cradock and Middelburg in the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality, where foreign objects such as huge stones, dead dogs and all forms of garbage are thrown into manholes, prompt huge spillages in the area. Damage to water and
“sanitation infrastructure is a grave concern for the district as this has a direct bearing on the provision of services to the community,” Gela said.
In Komani, which falls under the Enoch Mgijma Local Municipality, overflowing manholes regularly spew out human waste.
Some are situated alongside roads, while others are in resident s yards, causing an
’ unbearable stench and posing a health hazard.
In Pelem Road, in Komani, there is frequent flooding of smelly water that almost covers both lanes, making it difficult for motorists to drive through safely, and affecting residents whose homes are situated nearby.
Lingelihle township in Cradock is also not immune to criminal acts that result in regular sewage spillages.
Gela said this was a huge setback for service delivery as spillages that required regular repairs recurred frequently.
Vandalism of pump stations where critical elements are stripped does not only affect the functionality of the infrastructure but disrupts water supply to communities and this also affects the financial wellbeing of the district.
Of major concern is the
“flow of sewerage to the nearby Scanlyn pump station in Cradock that is continuously hindered with every occurrence, with the last major spillage affecting graves built on top of the sewer line.
Our technical team has
“since undertaken constant patrols to monitor the situation.”
The mayor said the Middelburg waste water treatment works and sewerage pump station had been subjected to vandalism and theft, which had rendered the plant totally dysfunctional.
He said a service provider was on site to refurbish the infrastructure and that work was expected to be completed during October.
The prevalence of theft and “vandalism of infrastructure is disturbing as it has a direct and significant impact on the performance of the infrastructure, and service is negatively affected.
We call upon all CHDM
“residents to work with government in protecting infrastructure that is beneficial to them by reporting those implicated,” said Gela.