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Prevent blocked sewers

Prevent blocked sewers

The City has to clear an excessively high number of sewer blockages each year. On average, we attend to nearly 10 000 sewer blockages every month. Clearing these blockages costs us millions, which could be used elsewhere for other services.
 

How to avoid sewer blockages

Blocked and overflowing sewers can be dangerous to your health, are unpleasant and smell bad.


Blocked sewers are also bad for our environment, because sewage overflows into our streets, stormwater systems, rivers and into the sea.

bin it, don't block it

Download our pamphlet on the right way to get rid of your rubbish so that it doesn’t end up in in our sewer system, causing blockages (English | Afrikaans | isiXhosa).

 

Disposal of wastewater for businesses

You can help avoid blocking our sewer system by following these guidelines:

  • Do not flush rags, newspaper, nappies, wipes, plastic packets, tampons or sanitary pads down the toilet. Wrap these up and throw them in the bin.
  • Do not install a food grinder in your sink - the ground bits can block sewer pipes. 
  • Do not throw sand, building rubble or any other object into drains or manholes.
  • Call a qualified, registered plumber to unblock sewers on your private property. Call our Technical Operation Centre if the blockage is in the street or on public land.
  • Check that tree roots are not growing into your sewers.
  • Check your property for illegal stormwater connections. Never let rainwater from your roof or paved areas drain into the sewerage system – this makes it easier for the sewers to flood. Learn more about preventing stormwater ingress.
  • Ensure that your drains are fitted with suitable covers to prevent sand, leaves and other foreign material from entering the sewerage system.
  • Report missing manhole covers to the City. Manhole covers prevent objects like sand, stones and discarded items from falling into our sewers. They are also important for safety and prevent bad smells and cockroaches from leaving the system.
  • Sweep sand away from drains and dispose of it in small amounts in the normal household bin, or at your local drop-off site.
  • Unwanted food and food scrapings belong in the bin, not down the sink, drain or toilet. Fruit and vegetable waste and egg shells can be used to make compost.
  • Wipe cooking fats, oil or grease off pots and pans, and don’t pour them down the toilet or drain. It hardens on the inside of drain pipes and acts like glue to any objects flowing through the pipe, causing blockages. Hot water does not melt fats, oils and grease in our drains.

If you own a business, it is your responsibility to ensure that your business practices do not block Cape Town’s sewers. Businesses are required to adhere to the terms of the Wastewater and Industrial Effluent By-law. The disposal of wastewater monitored by water pollution control officers.

If you contravene the by-law, the City of Cape Town has the right to issue a fine or take legal action against you to recover costs. Repeat offenders may be prosecuted or your business may be disconnected from the municipal sanitation system.

Our sewer system is only designed to accept bodily waste, toilet paper and sink, bath or basin wastewater. Anything other than this can damage or block the sewer system.

  • Collect waste oil in a suitable secure container and arrange for it to be collected by a licensed waste contractor.
  • Install and properly maintain a grease trap if you run a restaurant or are involved in food preparation. Read our grease traps information booklet for more information.
  • Put a strainer in the sink to catch food or other waste before it goes down the drain, and empty the contents into the bin.

Keep building materials and foreign objects out of the sewer system:

If you are a builder or are involved in the building trade, you have a responsibility not to let any of the building materials or foreign objects that you use in your work enter the sewer system.

To find out more, read our information booklet on blockages caused by building materials and foreign objects.

report illegal dumping

Call 0860 103 089 to report illegal dumping. If you have the culprit's vehicle registration number and/or can identify him/her, call 021 400 6157, or email: solidwaste.bylaw@capetown.gov.za.

Education resources for you and your community

Did you know?

A Well-run City: We launched a new Pump Station Control room in 2024, which digitally tracks the live performance of water and sanitation infrastructure. The control room helps to improve response times for urgent infrastructure repairs by monitoring the telemetry alarm system installed across the sewer and water network to provide digital early-warnings.

City Connect

You may also want to apply to discharge industrial effluent or report a blocked sewer. Follow the links below to find out how:

city connect

Apply to discharge industrial effluent

Report a sewer blockage via e-Services

Contact us

Water and Sanitation Department

Report sewer blockages, missing drain covers, vandalism, burst pipes, leaks and water waste using one of the following channels. Remember to provide the street address, and get a reference number.

You can also visit your nearest Walk-in Centre to report a fault.

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