From the potty to the pipe to the river

The residents of Virginia and Meloding are living an ecological and humanitarian disaster as unadulterated sewage freely flows through their streets and houses, and into the Sand River.

This is sewage from Sedibeng flowing into the Sandriver.Photo: Hansie du Plessis

This is a map of the beleaguered sewage system in and around Virginia and the resultant sewage flow into the Sandriver. Photo: Google Maps

Because of vandalism, the Virginia Main Pump Station has been out of service for almost 18 months. This has resulted in no sewage entering the Virginia treatment plant. Photo: Hansie du Plessis

Virginia Main pump station buffer-dam overflows into the river. There is no electricity because of theft. Photo: Hansie du Plessis

Adding to the ecological crisis in the Sand River, says councillor Hansie du Plessis, is the constant flow from the Thabong plant. This photo shows the sewage coming from Thabong. Photo: Hansie du Plessis

Amandel Street, Virginia, is permanently flooded with sewage. This flows directly into the Sand River. Photo: Hansie du Plessis

A mass of sewage water surrounds Meloding. This is the catchment area for the overflowing sewage from the settlement. It then flows through a man-made trench to the Sand River. Photo: Marti Will

Because of vandalism, the Virginia Main Pump Station has been out of service for almost 18 months now.

Hansie du Plessis, councillor for this besieged town, says the municipality is well aware of the problem, yet no effort has been made regarding repairs – which are estimated to cost R2 million.

“Because of this all of Virginia’s sewage, which is meant to be pumped from this pump station to the Virginia main sewage treatment plant near Tetra, now overflows into the Sand River,” he says

The town’s main pump station pumps sewage to the Virginia Main Pump station, which cannot pump all the sewage efficiently in times of high flow, especially after rain.

Pumps that were supplied have half the capacity of the original ones. Du Plessis says when this pump station stops operating, sewage flows into the main storm water line, entering the river about 300 m away.

“There are no backup pumps and only one of the two pumps is working.”

The Tikwe Pump Station has been done for two years. This station pumps sewage to the town’s main pump station. Sewage constantly overflows at the Vaal Central (Old Sedibeng) housing complex and flows into the river.

For more than two years, there has been a continual flow of sewage into the Sand River from Amandel Street.

The Meloding Pump Station has not been operational for more than four years.

A strong sewage flow enters the river at two places. Appointed contractors did not finish the contract.

The Harmony Pump Station is out of order and sewage flows directly into the river.

Du Plessis says residents in Queens Way, Saaiplaas, have been experiencing a constant sewage nightmare for more than five years.

“Houses have been flooded, to such an extent that residents have become very sick. It is believed this caused the death of one of the residents.

“Adding to the ecological crisis in the river, is the constant flow from the Thabong plant. As you enter Welkom from Virginia, the sewage on both sides of the road flows in a channel to the river.

“One can say that a large part of Welkom’s sewage is flowing into the Sand River.”