Hillcrest, Carters Glen sewage problems could soon be over

THE ONGOING sewage problems in the city’s suburbs of Hillcrest and Carters Glen could soon be a thing of the past after the Sol Plaatje Municipality this month launched the first phase in the installation of a new pump station in the area.

Municipal spokesperson, Thoko Riet, said on Friday that the first phase of the project included the construction of gravity lines form the Hillcrest and Caters Glen pump stations to the new Carters Ridge Sewerage Pump Station, which will be built during the second phase.

“Phase 1, namely the construction of the sewer outfall mains, commenced on September 8 with the appointment of a contractor, Amandla Construction.”

According to Riet, the anticipated completion date of this stage is May 8, 2021. “Phase 2 of the project will entail the construction of the pump station building that will include all the mechanical and electrical work that will be required.”

This phase will commence once phase one has been completed.

Riet pointed out that the construction of the gravity lines from the Hillcrest pump station will consist of uPVC pipes with various diameters of no more than 355mm, while the gravity main line form the Carters Glen pump station will consist of uPVC pipes of no more than 315mm.

These pipes will lead into the new pump station.

The city has seen an increase in residential developments in this area which has affected the sanitation service links to the Carters Glen and Hillcrest pump stations. “As a result, the two pump stations are operating at a design capacity that often results in blocked sewer within the reticulation,” Riet explained.

She added that because of the limitations of sewer infrastructure surrounding the Carters Ridge area, development could not unfold.

“These limitations have warranted the need for the construction of a new pump station to accommodate future development. However, the mere construction of a new pump would not address the current situation and, as a result, a decision was made to decommission the Carters Glen and Hillcrest sewer pump stations and this load will be catered for in the new pump station, which will also allow for new development to take place in the new Carters Ridge area.”

Incidents of raw sewage flowing into the veld near Mediclinic Gariep have been reported on a number of occasions, despite the fact that the hospital provided and installed two pumps in 2014, as well as upgraded the electrical infrastructure at the Petrus Street pump station.

This was aimed at not only increasing the capacity of the pump station but also to ensure that there was always a standby pump available if necessary.

However, the municipality later denied the hospital’s personnel from accessing the pump station to maintain the two pumps and the situation deteriorated.

Currently only one pump is working at the station, resulting in repeated blockages and raw sewage overflowing into the surrounding area.

Nearby residents have also reported that the raw sewage often flows into the road and has even flooded houses.

It has also corroded the tar, resulting in massive holes in the road, while residents have complained that the stench is often unbearable.

In an attempt to address the problem, the municipality dug a trench from the pump station to the veld next to Mediclinic to divert the overflowing sewage.

This has resulted in the formation of a swamp of sewage in the veld and concern has been expressed by the hospital group on the impact this will have as it is a health danger while it also poses a risk of infection.