SEWER PUMP STATION FAILURE IN MONTAGU

Dear Residents,

We regret to inform you that we have experienced a serious failure at Montagu's main sewer pump station. We encountered an issue requiring extensive manpower and machinery at the pump station to diagnose and address the problem.

Due to the urgency of the situation, we did not report immediately, as we aimed to ensure the accuracy of our information before making any public statements. The main line and valve from the pump station to the sewer works failed, resulting in sewage discharge into the Kingna River.

Our first response involved arranging sufficient tankers to extract sewage from the sump (before the pump station) and transport it to the sewer works. This process was carried out continuously to prevent further sewage from entering the Kingna River.

A service provider and our dedicated team worked tirelessly throughout the day and into the night to repair the pipework while tankers were consistently transporting sewage to the sewer works. Unfortunately, there is a noticeable odour downstream from the pump station sewage discharge into the river.

To mitigate the odour and potential hygienic issues, emergency measures is currently being implemented to treat the sewer spillage in the affected areas.

We are committed to providing you with an accurate and detailed report on this incident. We have already taken proactive steps by installing the first section of additional pipework needed for the quick connection of a backup pump, which will be used if any or both pumps in the station fail in the future. This installation will be completed as soon as possible.

Short-term: The pump station is operational again.

Medium-term: Investigate options to implement to prevent future sewage spillage into the river

Long-term: Upgrading the pump station to prevent recurrence during future floods, as this station is located adjacent to the Kingna River.

Your understanding and cooperation during this time are greatly appreciated as we work to resolve this issue and prevent future occurrences.

MUNICIPAL MANAGER

DP LUBBE

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Foutiewe Rioolpompstasie te Montagu

Geagte Inwoners,

Dit spyt ons om u mee te deel dat ‘n ernstige probleem  ondervind  word by die hoof rioolpompstasie te Montagu. Hierdie enorme probleem het uitgebreide mannekrag en spesifieke masjinerie by die pompstasie vereis,  om die probleem te diagnoseer en aan te spreek.

As gevolg van die dringendheid van die situasie, het ons nie dadelik verslag hieroor gedoen nie,  omdat ons eers die akkuraatheid van die fout moes verseker,  voor enige openbare verklarings gemaak kon word.  Die hooflyn en klep vanaf die pompstasie na die rioolwerke was foutief  en het tot  gevolg gehad dat die rioolvloei in die Kingna-rivier beland het.

Ons eerste aksie was om  voldoende tenkwaens  te  reël  om riool uit die put (voor die pompstasie) te onttrek en na die rioolwerke te vervoer. Hierdie proses is deurlopend uitgevoer om verdere rioolvloei na  die Kingna-rivier te verhoed.

‘n Diensverskaffer  en ons toegewyde span het deur die dag en nag gewerk om die pypleidingstelsel te herstel,  terwyl tenkwaens konsekwent riool na die rioolwerke vervoer het. Ongelukkig is daar 'n merkbare reuk stroom-af van die pompstasie,  as gevolg van die aanvanklike rioolvloei in die rivier.

Om die reuk   en moontlike gesondheidsprobleme te verminder en te voorkom,  is noodmaatrëels in plek gestel om die geaffekteerde gebied te behandel.

Ons is verbind tot die verskaffing van 'n akkurate en gedetailleerde verslag oor hierdie voorval. Ons het reeds pro-aktiewe stappe geneem deur die eerste gedeelte van bykomende pypleidingwerk te installeer wat nodig is vir die vinnige aansluiting van 'n rugsteunpomp, wat in die toekoms gebruik sal word indien enige of albei pompe in die stasie foutief raak. Hierdie installasie sal so gou as moontlik voltooi word.

Kort termyn: Die pompstasie is weer operasioneel.

Medium termyn: Ondersoek word gedoen na verskeie  opsies om te implementeer  om toekomstige rioolvloei in die rivier te voorkom.

Lang termyn: Opgradering van die pompstasie om herhaling tydens toekomstige oorstromings te voorkom, aangesien hierdie stasie langs die Kingna-rivier geleë is.

U begrip en samewerking gedurende hierdie tyd word opreg waardeer terwyl ons werk om hierdie probleem op te los en toekomstige voorvalle te voorkom.

MUNISIPALE BESTUURDER

DP LUBBE