Sewage leak hits repair quays in Durban

A major municipal sewage leak that led to the banning of fishing and the suspension of diving operations in the Port of Durban last Friday has had a major impact on companies using repair quays in the port’s ship repair precinct. Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) said in a statement that the port had suspended diving operations and prohibited all angling activities following a “severe” sewage discharge that posed a risk to diving personnel and marine life. “An investigation into the matter by Water and Sanitation has identified the main cause of the pump failures is the failure of the mechanical rakes at the entrance to the pump station allowing an ever – increasing amount of foreign objects to enter the pumping system. This resulted in the pumps tripping and failing mechanically,” said eThekwini municipality spokesman Msawakhe Mayisela. “Due to foreign objects entering the pumps, they became imbalanced and the consequential vibration caused the pumps to fail mechanically.” He said the mechanical rakes had since been repaired. However, the pumps were imported and spare parts were not readily available locally, which had caused a delay in the repair job. Installation of the repaired pump was expected to be done as this issue went to print on Monday (May 13). An anonymous message doing the rounds on Whatsapp groups in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday alleged that sewage was flowing into the port at a rate of approximately 720 000 litres per hour. The figure has not been confirmed by Transnet or the city although the message was sent to both for comment on Friday. “Damages to city infrastructure are making matters worse. Port of Durban has invoked BCP as we need to do water samples. We need to test for dissolved oxygen levels, and do analysis
of faecal contamination across the port,” the message read. Durban transporter Kevin Martin said municipal officials and the mayor should be held accountable for environmental accidents such as the recent sewage leak. “Take it all the way to the top. There should be an environmental fine of  R10 or R20 million and they should be made to pay it out of their own pockets,” Martin said.