Cape Town tackles MASSES OF FAT blocking sewers in Paarden Eiland

Lester Kiewit speaks to Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, about their battle to clear sewer lines blocked with stubborn masses of solid fat.

For more than a week, the City’s Water and Sanitation teams have been battling to clear excessive fat that has blocked a section of sewer pipes in Paarden Eiland.

Operations are continuing on the ground with intensive sewer jetting, among other interventions, until there is a breakthrough to clear the blockage.

Leading up to this excessive fat blockage in Auckland Street, Paarden Eiland, two 250mm rising main sewers were repaired on 14 September 2024.

These ran through the same road, stretching from Auckland Street sewer pump station.

This pump station had to be shut down to enable the repairs to be done.

A total of seven metres of sewer pipes (approximately 1.7 metres deep), were successfully repaired.

Unfortunately, soon thereafter, when the pump station was commissioned again, teams detected that the pump station was still unable to operate at full capacity.

This led to a manhole-to-manhole investigation from the Auckland Street pump station to the Carlisle Street pump station, where it was discovered that a large section of the sewer line was completely blocked up with excessive fats.

"Businesses are assured that City teams are making every effort to clear this excessive fat blockage in the shortest time possible. It’s not an easy task to etch away through volumes of hardened fat blocking flow in the sewer pipes."

- Zahid Badroodien, City Councillor - Water and Sanitation

"Operational teams acted quickly once the cause of the blockage was determined. On 25 September, two teams were deployed to attend to the intensive jetting and chemical treatment needed, followed by cleaning to clear up the line. There may be no significant visual improvement at this stage, but these continuous efforts are sure to soon yield results."

- Zahid Badroodien, City Councillor - Water and Sanitation

The City’s Water Pollution Control Unit will simultaneously conduct investigations to determine the root behavioural cause behind excessive fats, being illegally discharged into the sewer lines. All necessary actions and relevant penalties will be applied towards any transgressor(s).

Badroodien also urges residents and businesses not to pour oils and fatty substances down drains because they harden over time, causing blockages.

"This incident is an opportunity to remind the public, especially restaurants, caterers and other food suppliers to do the right thing. Please don’t pour fats and oils down their kitchen sinks, sewer drains or flush them down the toilet. The fatty liquids harden and build up over time, which is the direct cause of blockages like this one in Auckland Street."

- Zahid Badroodien, City Councillor - Water and Sanitation

"Rather pour excess oil into empty containers that once cooled, can be disposed of in the bin for refuse collection. Businesses must adhere to regulations in place for their waste disposal. We cannot win this battle unless we all work together to keep our sewers clear." 

- Zahid Badroodien, City Councillor - Water and Sanitation

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.