Preventative pollution control: Sewage spillage monitoring by Municipal Health Services at a District Municipality in the Eastern Cape - Case Study

Abstract

Municipal Health Services (MHS) is a core function of district municipalities in South Africa, and amongst others, entails functions, for instance pollution control and waste management. Continued sewage spillages from WWTW’s (Waste Water Treatment Works) and sewerage reticulation systems, remains a challenge for municipalities in particular and government in general, in pursuing sustainable basic municipal services and to prevent the associated ill health burden for the country. However, the MHS section of a district municipality in the Eastern Cape provides a solution by implementing a standardised and routine sewage spillage monitoring system and program for managing liquid waste challenges.

Improved conditions at WWTWs are recorded and it led to a decrease in sewage spillage points in the communities, due to better management and appropriate communication to role-players. The approach produced a standardized sewage spillage monitoring and reporting tool, which successfully informed management decisions on critical basic municipal service issues, which is affecting the health of communities. Whilst the DM performed their compliance enforcement role, they also capacitated local municipalities through funding motivations and implementing projects and programs to address the related “hot spot” areas. The departments of Water and Environmental Affairs showed an interest to integrate the results into theirs.