Sewage pollutes water pipe
TEST results from a freshwater pipeline supplying a road in Reservoir Hills have been released by the eThekwini Municipality and it is believed to have 200% more E coli than the accepted levels.
It is believed that while repairs were being done to the water infrastructure in O’Flaherty Road, the pipeline became exposed to a sewage overflow.
Prashan Sookdeo, a resident, said his family suffered bacterial infections after the contamination and had to see a doctor.
“On March 17, a pipe burst on the road. Workers from the city dug up the area where they presumed the leak was. In the process, they damaged the sewer pipe that runs parallel to that.
“This resulted in the sewage overflowing into the freshwater pipe. Though murky, we thought our water was finally restored but it was sewage flowing from our taps. Only later that day did we realise it was sewer water. The worst part was that we were being billed for sewer water.
“My family became ill with bacterial infections. We suffered severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea. When we visited our GP, he said many people consulted him with the same symptoms.”
Sookdeo said the matter was reported to the city and to the ward councillor, Alicia Kissoon.
“My home is the last house that is fed from that pipe and because of the gradient of the road, most of the sewage water came to my house. The following Tuesday, an official from the water and sanitation department arrived at my home and took four samples of water.
“We have been trying to flush the water out. It has returned to its normal colour but there is an odour. We are only using the water to flush the toilets.
“To bathe and cook, we use a public faucet and we buy purified water. It has become tedious to collect water to heat and bathe. It takes us back like 50 years.”
He said samples had been taken three times. “On March 22 and April 6 and 7, four samples were taken.”
He said residents had experienced water, electricity and sewage issues for some time.
“There is no quality assurance from the city. Contractors have shoddy workmanship.”
Kissoon said she received the results two weeks after she requested them.
“As residents are aware, we have had two water outages in O’Flaherty Road for which I requested water quality testing. The tests have been completed and the results indicate that the water does not meet potable standards and must be boiled before consumption or use for hygienic purposes. The department has asked for further tests to be done and I have asked that the department release further information to residents.”
The DA released a statement: “Notwithstanding the seriousness of the situation, the municipality failed to inform the community of the potential hazards. Instead, they continued to downplay the situation and insisted that the water quality was suitable for human consumption. The results from a water quality test requested by councillor Alicia Kissoon revealed shocking results, with E coli levels in excess of 200% above the normal acceptable levels.
“This is yet another example highlighting the sanitation crisis the municipality is facing. Daily, across the city, there are scores of sewer leaks and overflows on the streets and in our rivers.”
The DA said the city must take full responsibility for the situation. “Residents who were affected are requested to contact councillor Kissoon urgently.”
Lindiwe Khuzwayo, the city’s head of communications, said they were aware of the matter.
“We can confirm there was an incident where a TLB (tractor loader backerhoe) damaged some pipes and as a result, the water was contaminated. Samples were taken and confirmed high levels of E coli. Our teams attended to the repairs. Samples taken last Thursday were clear, no E coli and total coliforms (bacteria) were detected.”
According to the SA National Standard 241 for Drinking Water Specification, the maximum acceptable level for
is zero colony-forming per 100ml of water.