Overflowing sewage continues to plague Gemsbok Avenue in Hutten Heights.
In a continuation of sewage woes this year, three instances of waste water spillage were reported in November and December.
This included Tuesday morning, after torrential rains during the night.
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Water gushed from beneath a manhole opposite the Melo’s Pub & Grill parking area, flooding the drains and ultimately washing into a nearby stormwater drain.
Municipal officials provided official reportback late last week.
“The root problem is exactly that; there are trees in the vicinity and the roots force their way into pipe joints and cause a build-up of material [until] it finally blocks.”
According to the municipality, a team of workers would use a cutter on the rods to remove the roots, yet this was only a temporary solution.
Over time, the roots would ultimately grow back.
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Questioned on possible solutions to ongoing sewage problems on Gemsbok Avenue, officials said the removal of trees was not a good option, as it robbed Newcastle of its beauty.
Yet there was an increase in foreign objects in the sewer system.
“The other solution is to replace the existing lines and this should give some years of protection against the roots. There is a project that has started, whereby problematic infrastructure – i.e. asbestos cement water pipes and pitch fibre sewer pipes will be replaced.”
No further details were given as to the time frame or projected start of this project.
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