Television sets, car parts, mattresses and builders’ rubble are just a few of the objects regularly found illegally dumped in manholes across the city.
In the most recent incident, on Wednesday 21 June, a mattress was pulled out in Lavender Hill.
According to Mayco member for water and sanitation Zahid Badroodien, specialised bucket cleaning equipment had to be used to remove the mattress.
“About four hours of effort through machine and manpower was required to manoeuvre and then extract the mattress from the sewer manhole.
“The City has spent about R417 million in the past financial year due to misuse of the sewer system and illegal dumping.”
He added that the City’s water and sanitation team clears and cleans over 300 sewer blockages and overflows a day across Cape Town, including Lavender Hill.
Approximately 85% of these cases city-wide are the result of the “misuse of the sewer system” where items such as rags, feminine hygiene products, builders rubble, litter, fats and oils, and most recently, a mattress, are illegally dumped into manholes or enter via sinks or flushed down toilets.
“The City has even removed TVs and car parts from our sewer lines. These waste items should not be in the sewer network so when they are, they cause sewers to overflow into our streets.
“We all need to be mindful of what we do with our waste,” says Badroodien.
In Lavender Hill, about 28 blockages are cleared monthly which is about one per day.
The City is appealing to the public to prevent sewer blockages by refraining from illegal dumping.
“Illegal dumping into sewer infrastructure is a city-wide problem, and all of us – residents and the City – need to work together to help keep our sewers clear from blockages.
“We appeal to residents and community leaders to use the available resources on the City’s website to join in efforts to raise awareness.
“At the end of the day, the City cannot practically police what residents flush down the toilet or wash down their sinks, so it is up to communities to take responsibility. Let us work together to prevent sewer blockages.”
The City’s proactive efforts to help clear sewer blockages include jetting the sewer pipes and increased investment in pipe replacement, to reduce blockages.
- Don’t flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper.
- Use the City’s solid waste services provided to get rid of waste, not drains.
- Report sewer blockages and overflows using one of the City’s official channels.
- Report vandalism to the sewage system and stolen or missing sewer manhole covers.
To report water and sanitation-related service requests, such as a sewer overflow:
- WhatsApp 060 018 1505
- Online: www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests
- Email water@capetown.gov.za
- SMS 31373 (maximum 160 characters. Standard rates apply.
- Call 0860 103 089
- Visit a City walk-in centre (see www.capetown.gov.za/facilities to find the one closest to you).
