Sewage leak raises a big stink
PARKMORE - A serious sewerage leak compounded by blocked storm water drains caused sewage to flow onto the street infuriating residents on 2nd Road in Parkmore.
Resident Mark Tessendorff said the leak was reported about a day after it began, yet two days later there was still no sign of action from Joburg Water despite being told that it would be fixed within 24 hours after it was first reported. He said, “This has happened before many times. It took them about two weeks to sort it out last year.”
He pointed out another sewerage manhole a little further up the road which had leaked in the past. Dried toilet paper was still evident around the rim of the manhole. “Many times they have come out and fixed the leak but they left all the sewerage residue in the street, which stank and attracted flies,” he said
He said he had called Joburg Water to report that the blocked storm water drains were exacerbating the situation. He said he was told by a Joburg Water employee that blocked storm water drains were the responsibility of the Johannesburg Roads Agency. When he called the roads agency he was informed that it was Joburg Water’s responsibility, and when he explained what he had been told by Joburg Water, the roads agency employee allegedly slammed the phone down. He was eventually able to log the issue with the roads agency and received a reference number.
Joburg Water spokesperson Millicent Kabwe said blocked storm water drains were in fact the responsibility of the roads agency and in a situation such as this both entities were required to act. The leak was repaired later on the day Tessendorff spoke to the Chronicle, but several days later the storm water drains remained blocked and sewage residue was still on the street.
“And what about this mess from the sewage with the toilet paper lying in the street,” asked Tessendorff, “This is a serious health hazard. It dries into a powder and flies around in the wind and can cause health problems. This is a hazardous spill, there’s e-coli and all sorts of things, there could be serious repercussions. They just don’t care.” Kabwe did not provide an answer on the cleaning of the street.
The Chronicle called Joburg Connect to check on the status of the drain issue. The call was answered quickly and an operator said a team had been allocated to the job and the matter would be addressed soon.
