THE City is investing R54.8 million to manage the sewer crisis in Wallacedene and Bloekombos in Kraaifontein following health and environmental concerns.
High levels of e.coli were found in some of the retention ponds in the area which could pose a health risk.
A report tabled at the Sub-council 2 meeting recently showed that teams from various directorates, including Future Planning & Resilience, Water and Sanitation, as well as Roads and Stormwater (Urban Mobility) were to implement the plan aimed at containing the sewage overflow.
"The ongoing issues within the Wallacedene/Bloekombos areas necessitated the development of practical short-term solutions to address the continuous sewer overflows experienced in the area," the report noted.
The two main issues highlighted were the high count of e.coli levels found in water samples from the retention ponds, as well as the "environmental decay" caused in the catchment areas.
The report further said due to complexities associated with solutions to the sewer overflow crisis and the pressure on daily operations, an interim solution was needed.
The planned interventions at nearby pump stations, detention ponds and clearing of blockages, are a temporary measure until permanent solutions are implemented within two years, according to the report.
Mayco member for Water & Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, said the City was committed to the interventions.
He said the scope of the work would include procuring generators at Daza and Wallacedene pump stations to ensure operations were ongoing, constructing sand traps in Sam Njokozela, Makgato and Maroela streets to help prevent sand from entering the sewer pipeline.
Using combination jet trucks daily clear the sewer pipes in the area and creating low flow conversions for Plantation Pond (Old Paarl Road), Sandringham and Mgulwana Ponds would also help limit the flow of raw sewage into the Sandringham Pond and further downstream.
Badroodien blamed illegal occupation of some pieces of land in the area for the pressure on sewer infrastructure and services.
He also said some of the homes were erected on existing bulk sewer lines, thus preventing access and proper maintenance.
"This plan excludes medium to long-term solutions as well as sewer upgrades or increasing capacity of our water and sewer infrastructure," said Badroodien.
With the wet and cold winter season expected, residents fear that if nothing is done soon, they could experience serious sewer overflows.
"No one expected the severe floods to hit KwaZulu Natal. I pray that we don't get similar weather because it would be a disaster with the infrastructure we have," said resident Asavela Sako.
A public health expert at the University of Stellenbosch, Dr Jo Barnes, confirmed that the general situation in Wallacedene was unhealthy, as in other low-income areas of South Africa's towns and cities.
"There are large amounts of solid waste lying around as inhabitants use any open spaces as an informal rubbish heap.
"The City should not only cast blame but take a step back and ask why so much waste is lying around. So far I have not seen much of that," said Barnes.
She said solid waste removal systems in many low income area were the worst.
Barnes said from visits to the area it was also clear that the sanitation systems were not only old and poorly maintained, but also "hopelessly too small to cope with the present needs of the community''.
The City, however, did not give details of any long-term plans to address the shortfall in services.
Barnes feared that the exercise would simply be "another short-term stopgap" that would soon degenerate into more of the same crisis.
"Much of the waste lying around finds its way into the stormwater systems, open drains, causing blockages and spills " she said.
"I would like to encourage any municipality involved in upgrades to the sewer system in a low-income area to also make provision for education programmes and encouragement of better, more responsible use of the new facilities. Without such long-term investment in behaviour change, the problems will simply come back," said Barnes.
She added that the massive amount of untreated sewage dispersing into the environment from low-income settlements caused "severe environmental damage“ and polluted the water in streams and rivers.
"Such rivers are often used for irrigation of edible crops, bringing the diseases present in the water back to the population,“ she warned.
She added water and sewerage systems were susceptible to damage from severe floods.
"I hope the City is taking note of what has happened in KZN and starting to assess what can be done to safeguard Cape Town’s systems from the worst of such damage in future," said Barnes.
Badroodien urged residents in the area to use the solid waste services provided to get rid of unwanted waste.