A messy problem beneath the city

What’s lurking beneath Johannesburg’s streets isn’t just wastewater, it’s toys, nappies, wipes and a surprising amount of everyday household junk.

According to Johannesburg Water (JW), teams are clearing more than 4,500 blocked drains and sewers every single month, and what they pull out of the pipes often shocks even seasoned technicians. From clothing and towels to hair extensions, stones and children’s toys, the city’s sewer system is being treated like a rubbish bin with costly consequences.

JW spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala says blocked sewers remain one of the utility’s biggest operational headaches, and most of the damage is entirely avoidable.

What’s clogging the system?

When sewer teams respond to blockages, they routinely remove items that were never meant to be flushed or washed down drains. These include:

• Nappies and sanitary pads

• “Flushable” wipes

• Cooking fat, oil and grease

• Food scraps

• Plastic bags and rags

• Building rubble and sand

In October alone, JW managed to clear 5,278 blockages out of 6,448 reported incidents across the city a figure that highlights just how stretched the system has become.

Johannesburg currently experiences 152 sewer blockages per 100km of network, a worrying statistic for a city with over six million residents relying on aging infrastructure.

The real cost of bad habits

Blocked sewers don’t just mean unpleasant smells. Shabalala warns that they often lead to sewage overflows, environmental pollution, serious health risks and emergency repairs that strain already-limited budgets.

Johannesburg Water operates:

• 38 sewer pump stations

• 11,816km of sewer pipes

• Six wastewater treatment works

Together, these facilities treat over one billion litres of sewage every day. When pipes clog, the ripple effects are felt across neighbourhoods, from street flooding to contaminated rivers.

Why fat and wipes are public enemy number one

One of the biggest culprits is cooking fat, oil and grease. Once poured down a sink, these substances cool, harden and slowly build pipe-blocking “fatbergs”.

Despite their branding, flushable wipes don’t break down in the sewer system. Neither do nappies, which absorb liquid and swell, making blockages worse over time.

On social media, Joburg residents have reacted with a mix of disbelief and frustration, with many admitting they had no idea wipes and nappies were causing so much damage.

How residents can help

JW’s message is simple: only human waste and toilet paper belong in the toilet.

Here’s what to do instead:

• Let cooking oil cool, pour it into a container and place it in the bin

• Wrap nappies and sanitary products in paper before disposal

• Use Pikitup’s rubble removal sites for building waste

• Recycle or donate toys, never flush them

How to report a blocked sewer

• Phone: 011 688 1699 or 0860 562 874 (0860-JOBURG)

• Online: johannesburgwater.co.za

• Email: [email protected]

As Johannesburg continues to grow, officials say changing everyday disposal habits could make a bigger difference than residents realise, keeping sewage flowing, streets cleaner and the city healthier for everyone.

{Source: The Citizen}

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