Durban sewage crisis eases, three pumps restored

Significant progress has been made in repairing the Mahatma Gandhi Wastewater Pump Station, with three of the facility’s four pumps now back in operation and sewer overflows effectively halted.

The latest update comes weeks after a technical failure at the pump station triggered widespread sewage spills along Margaret Mncadi Avenue and into Durban Bay, sparking public health concerns, beach closures and complaints from businesses affected by the pollution.

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In a statement issued on Thursday, the eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate said all screening systems at the station had now been successfully installed and commissioned.

“In addition, three of the station’s four pumps have been repaired and brought back into operation,” the municipality said.

The commissioning of the three pumps has restored the station’s pumping capacity to a level that has effectively stopped sewer overflows previously experienced.

The Mahatma Gandhi Wastewater Pump Station is a critical piece of infrastructure responsible for managing sewer flows in Durban’s central region.

The recent breakdown exposed long-standing infrastructure challenges at the ageing facility and led to untreated sewage flowing into surrounding areas and the ocean.

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At the height of the crisis, several beaches, including North Beach, Bay of Plenty and Battery Beach, were temporarily closed while water quality testing was undertaken.

The spills also affected businesses operating around Durban Bay.

The Royal Natal Yacht Club previously told The Witness that sailing activities had been cancelled for weeks due to the pollution, affecting both event income and restaurant trade.

The municipality said work is continuing to repair the fourth and final pump.

“The Municipality anticipates that this pump will be commissioned during June as soon as repair works are finalised,” the statement said.

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Municipal officials said the pump station continues to be closely monitored to ensure system stability and optimal performance while the remaining work is completed.

As part of a longer-term solution, the municipality has also committed to a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade of the facility.

“The project will address historical design and operational challenges identified through technical investigations and engineering assessments to enhance reliability and efficiency of the facility,” the municipality said.

The latest progress marks a significant improvement from late May, when only one of the station’s four pumps was operational and emergency tankering services had to be deployed to assist with wastewater management while repairs were carried out.

The municipality thanked residents, businesses and stakeholders for their patience during the disruption and again apologised for the inconvenience caused by the sewage spill.

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The City has previously said the incident highlighted the need for broader upgrades to ageing wastewater infrastructure to improve reliability and reduce the risk of future failures.