CITY OF CAPE TOWN - MEDIA RELEASE: CITY UNBLOCKS 280 SEWERS A DAY... 16 OCTOBER 2014 In the 2013/14 financial year, the City of Cape Town had to deal with 102 252 sewer blockages across the city at an average of 280 blockages per day. In addition to the huge financial costs associated with clearing sewer blockages, they also pose a threat to public health. As such, the City has undertaken a public awareness campaign, educating residents about how to play their part in preventing sewer blockages. Read more below: The objective of this ongoing education and awareness campaign is to provide residents with a better understanding of the City’s sewerage infrastructure and to improve the way in which they use the sewerage system. In the past financial year (from 1 July 2013 to 31 June 2014) the City’s Utility Services Directorate has spent R311 million on clearing sewer blockages; and since 1 July 2014 up until 31 August 2014, the City has already recorded over 18 146 sewer blockages across the city. The majority of these blockages were caused by the disposal of inappropriate objects into the sewers, or fats clogging the sewer system in residential areas and in areas with a high number of restaurants. Building material and the infiltration of roots and sand into the sewerage system count among the other causes. Vandalism and the theft of manhole covers is another headache. In August 2014 alone, up to 322 manhole covers were stolen across the city, bringing the total number of manhole covers stolen to date (1 July 2014 – 31 August 2014) to 686 and the cost of replacing these to nearly R1,72 million. ‘We would much rather devote our limited resources to expanding and improving our service delivery to our residents. We hope that this awareness campaign will give residents a better understanding of the impact that overflows have on the environment and their health, as well as on the quality of the water in our rivers. Hopefully this will encourage all of us to use the sewerage systems responsibly by refraining from dumping inappropriate objects into it and being more cautious about how we use the City’s infrastructure,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg. Field workers who reside within the communities are going from household to household with their manuals, engaging with residents and raising awareness and advising how best to use the City’s sewerage system. Field workers are expected to visit at least 10 households per day and residents are requested to complete a survey form, measuring to what extent the message of the campaign has been communicated effectively. The areas currently being visited include: Hout Bay – Hangberg; Eerste River – Kleinvlei Town, Melton Rose and Forest Glade; Mitchells Plain – Crossroads; Philippi – Brown’s Farm; Milnerton – Joe Slovo; and Langa – Zones 18, 19 and 23 – 26. The campaign will be rolled out to other areas during the course of the financial year. Residents can assist the City in preventing blockages by doing the following: • Avoid putting fat, oil or grease and food leftovers down the kitchen sink or drain because these solidify and build up in the sewer line. • Refrain from dumping any inappropriate objects such as bricks, rocks, car parts and carcasses into sewers. • Never flush solid materials or objects down your toilet, such as food, tampons, sanitary pads, cleaning rags, nappies, nappie wipes, etc. These prevent the free flow of sewage and may damage your plumbing system. • Make use of qualified plumbers and use good quality material when laying or fixing your drainage installations. • Know your drainage layout and refrain from planting trees next to pipes or building on top of sewer pipes. ‘It is possible to preserve the City’s much needed sewerage infrastructure and to protect our natural resources such as our underground water if we all work together in using our infrastructure responsibly,’ said Councillor Sonnenberg. Residents are requested to please report sewer blockages and overflows to the City’s call centre on 0860 103 089.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 14:05:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015