GEORGE NEWS - Residents of Golden Valley in Blanco had to endure quite a stink over the past two weeks. 

The sewer team investigated the first complaint on 13 September and found an overflowing manhole, filled with rags, paper, bottles and other items flushed into the sewer network - the root cause of many of these blockages.

"The manhole was unblocked on the same day," said Director of Civil Engineering Services Jannie Koegelenberg.

However, two weeks later, a second sewer blockage was reported about 100m west of the previous complaint. 

"The sewage of the overflowing manhole followed the downward slope eastwards and ended up at the same location as the initial complaint." 

According to Koegelenberg the sewer team received the new complaint on 27 September and rectified the problem on the same day. They returned to site that same afternoon to monitor the situation and found no spillages, followed by two more inspections the very next day, of both areas, and again found no spillages.

"Unfortunately, blockages in the Blanco sewer reticulation are an ongoing problem due to unwanted material being discharged into the municipal sewer system," said Koegelenberg. 

"The Civil Engineering Services Directorate would again like to urge the public not to discharge any foreign objects into the municipal sewer system. In addition, residents must notify the municipality of any blockages or sewage overflows as soon as possible."

Report potholes, storm water blockages and civil engineering issues to 044 801 9262/6 (07:45 - 04:30) or 044 801 6300 (after hours). For Uniondale: 044 752 1024 or send an e-mail with the complaint to gmun@george.gov.za.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’