By Tabisa Mntengwana
09 November 2009

AT least 20 new catch pits have been constructed in Mdantsane and Duncan Village since work began on upgrading roads in the two townships.

But the catch pits are not the only infrastructure constructed in the areas; 10 headwalls have been built, manholes have been upgraded, as has kerbing, and 1 500 metres of piping for the stormwater drainage system has been laid.

In this financial year, the City has spent R2-million on upgrading stormwater drainage.

The City’s stormwater manager, Adrian van der Merwe, highlighted a few challenges that the stormwater unit, in the roads department, has faced. “The city centre has a continuous problem with litter finding its way into the stormwater system and blocking pipes.”

These concerns prompted the department to undertake a campaign to install grids at the inlets to all catch pits, which has reduced the blockages.

In Duncan Village, he said, residents used the stormwater system as a dumping area. “This poses a major environmental risk and due to blocked pipes, water doesn’t reach the beaches and rivers as it should.”

The campaign by the unit includes regular clearing of debris from the inlets by city street sweepers.

“The other challenge … is grass and weeds growing in the gutters and catch pits which prevent water from getting into the stormwater system. [This causes] flooding of roads which can cause traffic safety hazards,” Van der Merwe said.

“Despite all these challenges, the City has managed to upgrade the 10 existing catch pits and five headwalls [all over the city] so far.”

He confirmed that the extent and condition of the existing stormwater infrastructure in Buffalo City was unknown, “hence, we are undergoing a data collection project with students from Welland College in The Netherlands”.

“The project will help us identify areas that are under significant risk of flooding and the municipality will be able to focus its attention on the risk areas … This project will help the municipality to clean up the main streams and drainage systems easily and establish a master plan on municipal level concerning stormwater policy to prevent stormwater problems,” he added.