Manenberg sewers cleared of 40 tonnes of waste
Some of the 40 tonnes of debris, including nappies and wet wipes, that were removed from Manenberg’s sewer line.
Image: Supplied
Mountains of rags, nappies, and wet wipes, weighing over 40 tonnes, were removed from Manenberg’s sewer system over July and August as the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate carried out a major cleaning operation to prevent potential sewer collapse and pump station failure.
The exercise, known as bucketing, is a mechanical method used on large sewer lines to extract rags, sand, grit, roots, and other foreign objects that should never enter the system, said Dr Zahid Badroodien, the City’s mayoral committee member for water and sanitation.
City-appointed contractors carry out these operations to ensure bulk sewers remain clear, preventing blockages that can lead to overflows in homes, streets, and public spaces.
The City invested R624 110 in the two-month operation, which included proactive cleaning further up the line in Manenberg to safeguard families.
Image: Supplied
During the two month operation, the City focused on a bulk sewer line running from Manenberg to the Bridgetown pump station in Athlone.
Officials warned that had this build-up not been cleared, it could have caused a major blockage and pump station failure, spilling raw sewage into the surrounding community and creating serious health and environmental hazards, he said.
Dr. Badroodien said rags and fabrics should be placed in the regular waste bin rather than down the toilet. These items do not break down like toilet paper and can cause severe damage to sewer infrastructure. He said that each nappy or wet wipe flushed increases the risk of blockages and overflows that threaten both neighbours’ health and the environment.
The City invested R624 110 in the two-month operation, which included proactive cleaning further up the line in Manenberg to safeguard families from potential disruption to their daily lives.
Residents are urged to play a role in preventing sewer issues by only flushing human waste and toilet paper, using City solid waste services, reporting blockages and overflows through official channels, and notifying authorities of vandalism or missing sewer manhole covers. Drop-off facilities are also available for recyclables, he said.