Pump at last doing its dirty job

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Sewage flow at the Tronkdrift sewerage pump station seems to be back to normal, after a temporary submersible pump was installed at the station last week.

Other leaking pump stations are also in line to be fixed.

According to Edwardine Abader, acting spokesperson for the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality, the ongoing interruptions and repairs to the Tronkdrift pump station were due to items in the system too large for the design capacity to handle.

"Stormwater ingress also added to the problem due to sediments that settled in the pipelines," Abader added. The design of the new pump was adjusted for safety reasons, as well as easier maintenance installations.

According to Abader, the installation of the pump is just an interim measure. The municipality plans to upgrade all pump stations with adequate pumps and screens, as well as back-up generators. This project will be implemented over three financial years due to the cost.

On 5 February, MP Samantha Graham-Maré filed a case against Municipal Manager Dr Eddie Rankwana. She said the complaint follows the municipality's continued intentional and willful contamination and pollution of the Sundays River.

Sewage spilling from the Tronkdrift pump station before the installation of a submersible pump.