Residents of Table View, who were evacuated following severe sewage flooding on Monday, are now returning to their homes after the situation was resolved. The flooding was caused by a failure at the Table View East Sewer Pump Station, resulting in sewage overflow along Hof and Sprigg Roads.
Information on recent disruptions at the sewer station was shared on Friday, 4 April, when the City alerted residents to flooding at the station due to operational pump failure.
“A worn centre bearing was the cause of the malfunctioning of the pump with the loose drive shaft and is being attended to. The second pump that keeps on tripping is still undergoing a fault-finding process,” said the City of Cape Town in a statement on Saturday.
Sewage overflow has long been an issue in the area but was exacerbated over the weekend due to huge inflow volumes into the pump station. The City of Cape Town advised on Saturday that that was also the reason for a delay in repairs, as major inflow volumes pose a risk to the health of repair teams.
Sewer suction tankers were deployed since the weekend to minimise the severity of the situation, with residents urged to reduce sewer discharge.
“The City sincerely apologises for the extended inconvenience and assures residents that teams are working diligently to restore full functionality as soon as possible,” said the City in a statement on Sunday.
But, sewage flowed over into streets and submerged houses in the area.
City Fire and Rescue teams assisted in evacuating several families, using rubber duck boats to safely remove them from their homes on Monday.
Ward Councillor Sue Van Der Linde said the evacuation was deemed necessary due to health concerns.
“The evacuated residents were taken out as the fire chief perceived it could be a health risk. So it was more a measure to protect them than anything else,” said Van Der Linde.
After overnight efforts to stabilise the situation, the pump station was restored to full functionality by Tuesday morning.
Van Der Linde said that roads had been cleared and residents began their return home.
This incident comes just months after residents raised concerns about ongoing sewageoverflow into a nearby Lagoon. The City had been alerted to the issue.
Despite the challenges, the City has assured residents that the issue is being addressed, with significant upgrades underway to prevent future disruptions.
