[Image: PXhere]
Since July 1, 2024, the town’s seen a 60% spike in sewer blockages, and the cause is everything to write home about.
From soggy diapers to kitchen sludge, it’s a gross buffet of stuff that clearly has no business going down a drain.
City of Cape Town water and sanitation MMC Zahid Badroodien laid out the grim numbers: 280 sewer blockages between July 2024 and March 2025. That’s a full-on blockage boom.
“These were significantly more than the 175 logged during the entire previous financial year,” he said.
“Blockages caused by foreign items — including building material, sanitary products and nappies — have more than doubled. Sand and tree roots found in the sewer system are significantly higher, while blockages due to fats, oils and grease have increased more than fourfold.”
Y’all are clearly flushing and chucking things like it’s a magical bottomless pit, except it really is not.
In Westridge, the pipes are crying the loudest, with 26% of all blockages coming from this area alone. That’s 73 incidents, 24 from foreign gunk and 33 thanks to roots playing Jumanji underground.
Meanwhile, the Somerset West Business Park chimed in with nine messes of its own – eight caused by foreign objects. That’s almost impressive in the worst way.
“Residents and businesses are primary role players in keeping Cape Town’s sewers clear of foreign objects that, when disposed of incorrectly, block pipes,” Badroodien said.
“Blockages result in sewer overflows onto our streets or in the environment, compromising hygiene and living conditions for communities, especially during winter.”
And while some folks might shrug off the stats, he’s got a reality check:
“While these numbers for Somerset West may seem just statistics, each blockage poses health and environmental risks which can be mitigated by a change in habits and awareness of how to responsibly dispose of waste.”
So, what should you actually do?
“Only flush toilet paper and human waste. Other items, such as wipes, diapers and sanitary products, should be discarded in bins.”
“Don’t pour fats, oils and grease down drains. Fats, oils and grease harden in pipes, causing blockages. Rather let these cool and dispose of them in the bin.”
Winter makes it all worse, thanks to rain crashing the party and stormwater bullying the already overloaded pipes: “During winter, increased rainfall typically leads to higher volumes of stormwater entering the sewer network, especially in areas where illegal stormwater connections exist or infrastructure is vulnerable. This can overload the system and worsen the effect of blockages, leading to more frequent overflows into public spaces and natural water sources.”
“Proactive action by residents, supported by the city, is essential to help reduce the risks before the rainy season and to protect the health and safety of our communities.”
The bottom line is that we all need to grow up and flush properly.
[Source: SowetanLive]
