MEDIA STATEMENT: UPDATE ON MONTAGU SEWER PUMP STATION FAILURES AND INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES

The Municipality wishes to clarify the recent issues concerning sewer pump station failures and pipeline breakages in Montagu. The main reason for these incidents has been identified as ageing infrastructure, particularly at Sewer Pump Station 1 and the rising main pipeline that carries wastewater to the Wastewater Treatment Works. This infrastructure is now at a stage where frequent maintenance is necessary, and a complete upgrade and replacement are essential. During the latest pipeline failure,  both the duty and standby pumps were fully operational. Therefore, the incident was not due to a malfunction of the pumps, but rather the deteriorating condition of the ageing pipeline.

Currently, the pump station has a design capacity of about 70 litres per second, while average inflows typically range between 50 and 60 litres per second under normal conditions. Although the facility can manage average flows, its outdated design and limited sump capacity hinder its ability to handle sudden increases in flow, such as during heavy rainfall. This puts additional stress on the system and raises the risk of failures and spillages.

The Municipality has documented the following incidents over the past financial year:

- 16 July 2025: One pump failure occurred, but the standby pump remained operational, resulting in no sewer spillage.

- 20 December 2025: Both pumps failed at once, leading to emergency repairs. Sewer spillage occurred, but most flow was effectively managed through sewer tankers.

- Pipeline failures: There have been four significant breakages since July 2025, with the latest incident occurring in April 2026.

In addition to these infrastructure issues, the Municipality has been facing blockages caused by inappropriate items being disposed of in the sewer system. These blockages add to the operational strain and can worsen system failures. Residents are encouraged to avoid disposing of non-flushable materials in the sewer network. To address these challenges, the Municipality has sought funding for the 2026/27 financial year to do a detailed design for upgrading both the pump station and the associated pipeline infrastructure. Currently, no capital funding has been secured for construction. Once the design phase is complete, additional funding applications will be submitted to facilitate implementation.

Langeberg Municipality remains committed to service delivery and plans to tackle these infrastructure challenges. Thank you to all residents for their patience and cooperation during this time.

Issued by:
Mr D. P. Lubbe
Municipal Manager