Water quality expert fears public health emergency imminent if Hout Bay sewage spills continue
The City of Cape Town, at the same time, admits its implementation of stormwater to sewer pipe connections is one of the leading causes of ongoing sewage overflows in the area.
Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay. Picture: Google Maps
CAPE TOWN - An independent water quality expert fears a public health emergency is imminent if sewage spills in Hout Bay continue.
The City of Cape Town, at the same time, admits its implementation of stormwater to sewer pipe connections was one of the leading causes of ongoing sewage overflows in the area.
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Mayco Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, said that stormwater to sewer cross connections were implemented to separate household greywater from stormwater in Hout Bay.
Badroodien said the aim was to lessen pollution in waterways. However, sewer volumes were now increasing, placing more pressure on pipelines in the area.
He said the unplanned growth of Imizamo Yethu and illegal sewerage connections were compounding the problem.
"This often overwhelms the sewer network with foreign objects that shouldn't be in the sewer network to begin with."
Badroodien said the city was cleaning pipes and sewage spills in the area and blockages were decreasing year-on-year.