| Reminders about sewers, rivers and canals during inclement weather | Reminders about sewers, rivers and canals during inclement weather | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/City%20news.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>As heavy rainfall continues, residents are reminded to please take note and adhere to reminders related to rivers, canals and sewers during inclement weather.<br></p> | <p><strong>Reminders for the public during heavy rainfall and flooding:</strong></p><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Stay away from catchment areas such as rivers and canals and its surrounding roads- please use alternative routes </div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Don’t try to cross canals, rivers and channels or fast-flowing water</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Don’t walk or drive in the flood waters </div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Don’t remove sewer manhole covers to drain the rainwater flooding roads. Removing these will cause sewers to overflow and it is also a health and safety risk to have uncovered manholes in the road</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Don’t remove stormwater and catchpit covers. Removing these will cause a safety risk</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Don’t dump waste in rivers, canals and, sewers and stormwater drains</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Dispose of refuse using the City’s solid waste services- please be patient as this service is also experiencing delays due to weather impacts</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Keep gutters and drains free and clear of debris</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Report emergencies to 021 480 7700</div><div><br></div><div>Continuous heavy rainfall in Cape Town is resulting in some rivers and canals in various areas filling to their capacity and even overflowing, resulting in flooding. This includes sections of Liesbeek River, Grootsboskloof River, Spaanschemacht River, Keyser River and Blinkwater stream. </div><div><br></div><div>City teams are working tirelessly responding to various incidents and are monitoring these closely. Residents are reminded the City’s sewer and stormwater teams are also continuing to unblock drains where necessary. Leading up to winter, various City departments have been proactively cleaning the stormwater and sewage infrastructure to help keep the systems clear to reduce the impact of excessive stormwater entering the systems. </div><div><br></div><div>The large volumes of rain is currently overwhelming the stormwater system. During continuous heavy rain, when rivers and canals overflow, stormwater cannot drain freely from the roads into the watercourses. As soon as there is a break in rain, the flooding will slowly clear.</div><div><br></div><div>‘We urge the public to please take note of these precautionary measures for their safety and wellbeing,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.</div><div><br></div><div>‘During the heavy rainfall experienced, canals as well as retention ponds, detention ponds and other storm-water related infrastructure will fill with water and distribute the flow to rivers and the sea as they are intended to do. The prolonged downpours however can and do overwhelm the systems and draining can take longer which causes localised flooding and the bursting of canals and rivers. Residents are reminded that this situation is made far worse than it needs to be due to the continuous dumping of rubble, plastics and other foreign objects into these systems which are designed for the movement of stormwater only. </div><div> </div><div>‘Capetonians can help avoid or lessen the misery and danger experienced by flooding by reporting blocked stormwater infrastructure and by reporting illegal dumping. We encourage commuters to use alternative routes where possible in order to avoid possibly dangerous situations along our water bodies and canals,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Roberto Quintas.</div><div> <br><br></div> | 2024-07-10T22:00:00Z | GP0|#e3c03ac1-845c-4119-815d-e796340463ba;L0|#0e3c03ac1-845c-4119-815d-e796340463ba|Community news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#7f7383b5-1732-4d05-8695-ea364c894aa9;L0|#07f7383b5-1732-4d05-8695-ea364c894aa9|sewer;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#9bcbd52b-4510-4bb9-ba7c-6764598cd6ae;L0|#09bcbd52b-4510-4bb9-ba7c-6764598cd6ae|Rivers;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#a40ad539-1abd-4549-af11-63cf388da83c;L0|#0a40ad539-1abd-4549-af11-63cf388da83c|flooding;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
