City fixes faulty sewage systems in Langa

By Marthe van der Wolf
18 September 2007

The control and security systems at the Langa sewage pump station will be upgraded by the City of Cape Town. This has to stop the sewage contamination of the Elsieskraal Rivier.

"Extensive vandalism of the control equipment over the past year has contributed to the sewage spillage, but that was not the only contributing factor," says Pinelands subcouncil chairperson Brian Watkyns. "The northern areas sewer was constructed in 1951 and needs to be upgraded."

The station serves thousands of households in Athlone, Bridgetown, Pinelands, Langa and parts of Parow.

Due to the limitation of the northern areas sewer, detrimental conditions such as excess stormwater, would come into the system and faulty pump station controls will result in sewage spillage.

The Council had approved the funding for the Langa repairing. All the preliminary work such as design, drawings and tender documentation to upgrade the northern sewer has been completed. When everything is fixed, the sewage contamination will be stopped.

"A proper functioning sanitation system is essential for human life, health and economic development," says Watkyns.