City of Cape Town officials raced to Pollsmoor Correctional Centre on Monday after a sewage spill threatened local rivers, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Ward councillor Carolynne Franklin, alerted by prison management, said the contaminated water spread across the prison grounds and into the surrounding area, with a blockage found to be caused by waste dumped into the system.
City officials quickly intervened, resolving the blockage by Tuesday morning. Zahid Badroodien, Mayco member for water and sanitation, explained that the blockage was due to debris such as rags and cutlery clogging the pipes. Fortunately, the swift response minimised the environmental impact on nearby rivers, including the Westlake River, which feeds into Zandvlei, a popular recreational area.
The spill, originating from a sewer line running through Pollsmoor’s agricultural land, was initially misattributed to the prison. However, Singabakho Nxumalo from the Department of Correctional Services clarified that the City of Cape Town manages the sewer line. He also acknowledged that delays in the initial response led to Franklin’s intervention.
The City’s Water Pollution Control team monitored the spill, assuring the public that the immediate area was cleaned, and there was minimal risk to Zandvlei. This comes amid growing concerns over water quality in Cape Town’s rivers, with the City’s reports indicating a rise in sewage contamination linked to infrastructure issues and informal settlement runoff
The situation highlights ongoing water quality concerns in the area, with Zandvlei previously closed due to high levels of sewage pollution. Despite these challenges, the quick action taken by the City prevented a more significant environmental impact.
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