CoCT kicks off winter preparation efforts to mitigate seasonal flooding

Source: EWN Traffic
Author: Ntuthuzelo Nene

CAPE TOWN - The City of Cape Town says it's all systems go for its winter preparations ahead of the rainy winter season.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis joined city teams' jet-cleaning sewers in Bishop Lavis on Thursday, as part of the metro's winter preparation efforts.

He said teams had already cleaned a record 230 kilometres of sewer-lines across the metro, which far exceeds the 200 kilometres target the city set for itself to clean drains.

The City's head of water waste conveyance, Sigqibo Nogaya said the municipality's aim is to minimise incidents of flooding in winter.

"We know that it's a wet season and there's a lot of stormwater that finds its way onto the roads, into the sewer and stormwater pipes. So, we pro-actively clean those pipes so that they can manage because throughout the year there are foreign objects that find themselves in those sewage systems."

Bishop Lavis councillor, Johanna Martlowu appealed to Capetonians to stop dumping waste down the drains.

"That is causing major problems in communities, we don't want to live like that. Communities must take ownership and help the city to do what is best for the community."