GEORGE NEWS - Do you ever wonder why some areas flood more than others or have more sewage spills?

In most cases the problem can be directly related to what goes down the drain.

Wrong stuff

Wrong stuff being flushed down toilets or thrown into manholes and stormwater drains is the greatest cause of sewage spills, blocked drains and flooding in urban areas.

Problem items include: Food packaging and cooldrink bottles in stormwater systems, large items such as dead animals and furniture in manholes and drains, as well as nappies, sanitary products and newspaper flushed down toilets.

 Small hole, big problem

Things do not disappear just because you flush it down the toilet or throw it down a drain!

In fact, wrong items in the drains will probably become a much bigger, stinkier problem for you than the thing you originally threw away.

Think about it. A sanitary pad may seem like a small thing, but it will cause a big sewage spill in your yard if it clogs even one pipe.

Pipes go everywhere

Underground pipes connect your community below the ground in the same way streets are connected above the surface. 

That means rubbish that was dumped down a drain far from your house can still cause problems near your own house, or in places where you shop or work or walk.

The whole community benefits when pipes are clear everywhere.

Rubbish clogs the system

Nothing solid should go down a drain or toilet, no matter how big or small.

Large things will get stuck in pipes easily, but a whole lot of little things will eventually group together and clog the drain too.

Serious consequences

Clogged stormwater drains can cause flooding that damage houses, cars and property, and can be dangerous for drowning.

Clogged sewers will lead to sewage spills, which are stinky and possibly even a health problem.

Clearing out drains is an expensive job that costs the municipality a lot of money and manpower, which could have been used for other community projects.

If you get caught dumping or littering, you will be fined. If you can’t pay the fine, you can go to prison.

Don’t do it!

Do not throw your rubbish down the holes at the side of the road (stormwater drains).

Do not flush the following things down the toilet: Baby nappies, sanitary pads and tampons, newspaper, cloths and fabric, fatty food or fat.

Do not throw the following items down manholes and drains: Branches, tyres, rocks, dead animals and dirty rags.

Photo: Unsplash

You can help

Protect your property and people from the consequences of abusing the drains and stormwater systems in the following ways:

• Make sure the areas in front of stormwater drains are clear from rubbish and leaves.
• Don’t litter. Keep your food papers, plastic bottles, cigarette butts and other waste with you until you get to a refuse bin and throw it in the bin or until you get home to throw it away in the right place.
• Keep your rubbish at home in a black bag and put it out on refuse collection day. You can put out up to seven bags per household every week.
• Put soiled nappies and used sanitary products inside plastic shopping bags and close it with a knot before throwing it inside your black refuse bag.
• The toilet is not a dustbin. Use it only for bodily functions and toilet paper. Everything else must go into a black bag, municipal skip or legal refuse site.
• Throw building rubble, car tyres and other big stuff away at the municipal refuse site or inside a municipal skip placed in your area.
• If there is a recycling programme in your area, separate your recyclables and throw it into the blue bag provided. Put the blue bag out for collection with your black bags on refuse day.
• Look out for anyone getting up to mischief and trying to open drain covers - chase them away or report them.

Report

• Report blocked drains and stormwater drains to Civil Engineering Services: 044 801 9262/66 or 044 801 6300 (a/h).
• Report people who dump large items into drains to Law Enforcement: 044 801 6350 or 044 801 6300 (a/h).
• Report illegally dumped waste that must be collected to Environmental Services: 044 802 2900 or 044 801 6300 (a/h).
• Report dead animals for collection and disposal to Garden Route SPCA: 044 878 1990.
• Report dead animals on the N2 for collection to Sanral: 082 553 4878.

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