The stench of untreated sewage lingers in the air of Table View and Milnerton streets causing widespread inconvenience and health concerns for residents.
According to residents, sewage overflow has been an ongoing issue for many years in their areas, disrupting their daily lives and heightening fears of contamination.
The overflow, a stark manifestation of ageing sewage systems and inadequate maintenance, is not only limited to Table View and surrounds, but all over the city, residents claim.
“This issue has been going on for many years and our concerns are falling on deaf ears. We keep telling the City that they should not approve every Tom, Dick and Harry’s development in the area, now the system can’t cope with the volume,” says Barry Lewis, a resident in Flamingo Vlei.
Sandra Davidson says she has sent multiple complaints to the City, but nothing is being solved.
“Year after year the same thing happens. Our children can’t even play in the streets due to the overflows, not to mention the smell and health hazard,” she says fumingly.
Only one pump working
The City of Cape says the Table View East Pump Station is unable to cope with the high volumes of flow running through the system.
The cause of the overflow is a failure of a pump, says the Mayco member for waster and sanitation Zahid Badroodien.
A minimum of two pumps is required for this pump station to work effectively. On 1 March, only one pump was running.
“The other two pumps have leaks at the mechanical seals. Initially the failures were attributed to the pump tripping which was resolved as it occurred. Teams will also ensure the station is monitored at least three times a day going forward. The pump station has a working generator,” Badroodien says.
On 1 March, City teams were in the process of ensuring a second pump is installed. This will mean both pumps will be up and running which will help ensure that the flow is managed at the pump station. “The necessary teams have been activated to assess the impact on the immediate environment. All protocols will be applied in this regard,” Badroodien says.
Milnerton poo-lagoon
Milnerton residents are also fed up with broken infrastructure and rotten smells, as they face the same (if not worse) sewage overflows. “Much worse is happening in the Milnerton and surrounding areas,” Lewis says.
Although the City has made great strides in restoring the Milnerton Lagoon, pollution (often from the lack of working pumps at Koeberg Pump Station) has persisted due to a string of unanticipated incidents, the City says.
One of the main causes for system failures is high sewage flows, putting pressure on the entire sewer system.
The City says additional complexities are presented when the need for repairs arises. Due to the depth of the pipeline, excavation typically measures 5m below the surface.
The R470 million Milnerton Bulk Sewer Improvement Project has been instrumental in earmarking the area’s deteriorating sewage infrastructure for phased replacement, the City says.
Long-term improvements to Koeberg Pump Station will cost R118 million.
The installation of a sand trap and screening facility will be completed first.
“The goal is to finish this project in 2025. Furthermore, from 2026 to 2028, Koeberg Pump Station will be re-constructed to increase overall capacity,” Badroodien says.
The City has ordered four pump impellers which will reduce redundancy. Four new pumps for Koeberg Pump Station and two for Racecourse Pump Station are due for delivery in May 2024.
