Reconnection of Umhlathuzana River sewer network reduces pollution after April 2022 floods

Three years later, the damaged Umhlathuzana River area sewer network was reconnected to the Umhlathuzana Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW).

The network of pipes was damaged in the April 2022 floods in KwaZulu-Natal. The eThekwini Municipality stated that it had restored the bulk sewer network, where it undergoes full processing before discharge.

With the sewer inflow reconnected to the WWTW, the municipality stated that a significant amount of effluent spillage was being contained and prevented from entering the river, reducing pollution and protecting the local environment.

The bulk sewer system, currently under refurbishment, services several major catchment areas, including Marianhill, Pinetown, Tshelimnyama, and parts of Umhlathuzana.

Project Executive, Sduduzo Mtshali, said that the sewer rehabilitation project is structured into five work packages.

“Commissioning work package one, which includes the manholes and pipelines linking to the treatment facility, is a significant milestone. This work has led to a substantial reduction in pollution, with sewage now flowing directly to the treatment works instead of overflowing into the river,” said Mtshali.

He added that the newly-installed sewer pipelines have been engineered to withstand extreme weather events, featuring concrete encasement and protective barriers to prevent erosion and ground movement. The project is expected to be completed in 2026.

Desmond D’Sa, coordinator of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), said these rivers in the catchment area lead to the Durban Harbour, in particular an area known as Grunter Gully.

He said that on many occasions, the foul stench in some parts of the harbour has become unbearable.

“The alliance has been continuously monitoring the rivers and harbour inlets and taking water samples. We have found that chemicals are also dumped into the river and flow into the harbour. On some occasions, our water samples revealed high levels of E. coli, ” he said.

Councillor Mdu Nkosi, the chairperson of eThekwini Municipality Trading Services Committee, visited the Umhlathuzana sewage pipe replacement project to assess progress.

Nkosi said contractors were working hard on the site, and this has resulted in a significant amount of work being done.

Nkosi said the budgets for these projects were crucial.

“We have to thank the councillors who supported the budget. Without the budget, we would not be able to do these things. The people of eThekwini must know we have many infrastructure projects being undertaken. We are ensuring that no spillage of sewage is taking place in our rivers and oceans,” he said.