Fat blocks sewers in Paarden Eiland

The City’s water and sanitation department has battled to clear excessive fat that blocked the sewer pipes in Paarden Eiland last week, says mayoral committee member for water and sanitation Zahid Badroodien.

He urged all businesses in the industrial area to adhere to the regulations in place for their waste disposal and to work together to keep the sewers clear.

Dr Badroodien said work in Auckland Street would continue, after extensive sewer jetting, among other interventions, since last week.

He said two 250mm rising main sewers, which run from the Auckland Street sewer pump station, were repaired on Saturday September 28 and seven metres of sewer pipes, about 1.7 metres deep, were repaired, but when the pump station was commissioned, teams detected it could not operate at full capacity.

“This led to a manhole-to-manhole investigation from Auckland Street pump station to Carlisle Street pump station where it was discovered that a large section of the sewer line was blocked up with excessive fats.”

He urged businesses to dispose of their waste into bins until it was collected.

“Rather pour excess oil into empty containers that have cooled and can be disposed of in the bin for refuse collection,” he said.