Picture: Sewer spillage overflows into a house in Pampierstad/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
One of the residents at Korea Section in Pampierstad said, the sewer spillage in his yard is hazardous to his health and children. Wesley Kgadubane (37) said, he has reported the sewer to the Phokwane Local Municipality, but nothing has been done to fix the mess.
“I have tried all avenues to report this mess, but the municipal workers will come and fix the sewer only for it to burst again after two days. So, our health is at risk because sewage contains harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa.
“What is more worrisome is that, the sewer overflows down the street and sometimes, children play in the dirt. We urge the municipality to do something about this before we lose lives,” Kgadubane said.
He further said, now he has to stay indoors because of the bad odour that comes outside. Kgadubane added that, the spillage might be caused by poor maintenance. He urged the municipality to properly maintain the sewer system to enable it to get rid of the sewage safely.
The Phokwane Local Municipality spokesperson, Kgalaelo Letshabo said: “Sewer spillage remains a huge challenge at Phokwane. Every day of the week, our water and sanitation team works on blocked manholes, sewer pipe leaks and spillages.
“This is due to ageing infrastructure in the sewer network. Foreign objects flushed down the toilet are also a contributing factor in the sewer network.”
Letshabo said, the municipality has made contact with the complainant after seeing the pictures on social media, even though they had already attended to the problem previously. She said that given the reasons mentioned above, this causes a backwash in that yard.
“Our team has been onsite addressing the problem,” said Letshabo.
Meanwhile, the https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au website said: “Sewage overflows can be caused by damaged or blocked plumbing, sewerage system backflow, septic tank damage and flood water. If your home has an overflow, protecting yourself and your family should be your top priority.
“Avoid direct contact with sewage and any contaminated surfaces. Thoroughly disinfect every surface touched by sewage. Make sure you wear protective clothing when cleaning and disinfecting, including rubber gloves, boots and eye protection.”
It said, affected people should use an uncontaminated water supply when cleaning. The website said, people should not use their own water supply, if you they are unsure of its quality.
“If a sewage disposal system is not properly maintained it will not be able to get rid of the sewage safely. Proper maintenance of a sewerage system means all faulty (blocked, damaged, broken or worn-out) parts must be repaired as soon as possible after they stop working correctly.
“Practise good hygiene and wash your hands frequently, especially after touching contaminated surfaces and before preparing food. Clean and disinfect all contaminated areas. Keep children and pets away from contaminated objects and areas until they have been disinfected.
The Guardian 