In its recently approved budget the Breede River Municipality (BVM) set out various amounts for the upgrading of its sewage system.
This comes after residents have had to experience various sewage-related problems for years. These include blocked sewage systems, overflowing drains, which spill over into residents’ yards, gardens and homes.
In the budget R13 million has been allocated for the upgrade of the sewage network system in Avian Park, Roodewal, Riverview and Zwelethemba.
“This money is going to be used to ensure the different challenges associated with the provision of the service can be overcome or at least reduced,” Hannelie Botha, a spokesperson for the BVM, pointed out. “At each of the different stations mentioned here various upgrades will therefore take place over the course of the new financial year. We are currently already busy with the fencing (security) of four sewage pumping stations: Zweletemba, Toevlug, Avian Park and Nobelpark. These pumping stations will also each receive a generator, security cameras and flow meters. Panel boards in pumping stations are being upgraded. The projects have already started and will be completed by October 2023.”
She said a sentence in the budget describing the Avian Park sewage pumping station benefiting from a R14 million budget was not correct.
“The description is actually misleading because the funds are actually going towards a planned industrial development adjacent to Avian Park as well as Boland Beer Distributors, on the large open piece of land on the other side of it.”
The town of Touws River’s sewage works will enjoy an upgrade injection of R14 million.
“This is for preparation of the sewage network in anticipation of the planned housing development that will take place in Touws River,” Botha said.
The sewage pipes in Zwelethemba will be moved from the back of properties to the street. For this project R6 million was budgeted.
“It is very difficult to service the sewage system in the place where the pipes currently are. The pipes run in the middle of two rows of houses and are always a problem to get to in, in times of emergencies.
“That is why the pipes have already begun to be moved to the front of their houses so they can be serviced more easily. A sewage pipeline is being moved in Kwinana and Khutwana streets, and this means a new pipeline is being laid and upgraded in Khutwana Street. The project is set to be completed at the end of July 2023.”
Lastly, R2 million will be spent on the replacement of Worcester Sewage Works’ pumps.
Breede Valley Executive Mayor Antoinette Steyn said she was very excited about the budget for the upgrading of the sewage systems.
“A lot of people have said they can’t see some of the things, but the difference the upgraded sewage systems will make in people’s lives is going to be a plus for me.
“Because, at the end of the day, we all know how many sewage blockages we’ve had, and with the addition of new pipes and redirection of pipes, and the new pump stations, it is going to make it that much better for people who struggle with these problems on a daily basis.
“The new changes are going to have a big impact on cleaner and neater surroundings. And for that reason I am very exciting. It is a lot of money but it needs to be done because at the end of the day it is a health risk. And if your surroundings are nice and clean, and you don’t have to live in the sewage water anymore, then it invigorates the residents. Everyone, including councillors, know this has to happen, something that should have happened long ago.”
