Blocked sewer stinks up property

Resident, Sue Ransome said she has been reporting the blocked sewer to Joburg Water since last year and a team was always sent out to unblock it. “But nothing has been done to prevent this from happening again, as it has already happened five or six times this year,” said Ransome. “They push the plumbing rod down the sewer line and the blockage clears, then anywhere between 12 hours and two weeks later, the sewage is running down our driveway again. I have always been a proud Joburger, but I now wish I lived in Cape Town.”

Joburg Water customer care services apparently informed Ransome in an email that the matter would be escalated to the regional manager’s office. Ransome said, “This situation is a major health risk to our family. We have a major fly infestation on our property after all the sewage leaks and I need to pay for a pest control company to sort the problem out. Our dog runs through the sewage and into the house, and I have to have the carpets cleaned.”

Fransie Small, acting customer care manager of the Joburg Water Sandton and Alexandra region responded to Ransome in an email and said, “Somebody in your street is diverting their storm water into the sewer/wastewater system of the council. If this keeps on happening you will have this every time when there is a heavy storm.

“I suggest that if you ever have a homeowners meeting you need to make owners aware that it is a contravention of the building bylaws. Storm water needs to be diverted into the road or the storm water system not the council’s sewer/waste water system.”

In the meantime, Ransome felt that progress had been made and the sewer had been fixed. However, she was not convinced that it was a long term solution. “Joburg Water has really made an effort to assist in the last few days and has promised to try to find the source of our problem, which may be the new house which is being built further up the sewer line,” added Ransome.