Cape Town: The Water and Sanitation Directorate of the City of Cape Town participated in a lively community activation at the bustling Parow Market on May 24. Mayoral Urban Regeneration Programme (MURP) organized the event that created a platform for residents to engage with various city departments and also get assistance with water and sanitation-related services.
Through the interactive games and pamphlet distribution, the residents were invited to learn more about the root causes of sewer blockages and how the ‘Bin It, Don’t Block It’ campaign is a community call to action.
Reportedly, the purpose of the exhibition was to bring municipal services closer to residents. It was an important platform for the Water and Sanitation Directorate to discuss how individual waste disposal choices are made every day. It has a direct impact on environmental and living conditions. When sewer infrastructure is misused, communities suffer from persistent sewer blockages and overflows.
Further residents were encouraged to take small and meaningful steps, that help to turn the situation around. Action such as opting for refuse bins to dispose of litter, sanitary items, nappies, cloths and other unwanted waste can make a difference, as these items are currently the leading cause of sewer blockages.
Vandalism also has a major impact, particularly manholes either being literally opened to dump bins or building rubble; or being stolen leaving the entire sewer pipe network exposed to foreign objects entering the system.
Via one-on-one interactions, residents become more aware of how infrastructure is being misused in their own surroundings.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien said that the city is continuously making major investments in sewer infrastructure by replacing ageing pipes, upgrading pump stations and wastewater treatment works.
However, to sustain these improvements, residents also need to play their part. Proper waste disposal must become deliberate, as this shift is essential to reduce sewer-related incidents.
Councillor Badroodien said that the Water and Sanitation Community Engagement unit is a dedicated resource, that works in the heart of all communities to drive behavioral change. They also serve as a valuable information resource for both residents and operational teams, as they identify obstacles which may prevent change from taking place.
Among their expertise is Youth Edutainment. A popular part of the exhibition in Parow was a giant 4m x 4m water-themed board game. This offered a fun learning space for children as they took turns to play, either moving forward or backward depending on their compliance with water by-laws. Originally developed in-house during the drought, the game has been updated over the years and aims to promote water-wise behavior.
In addition to exhibitions, the Community Engagement unit conducts ongoing outreach at schools, malls, religious institutions, local businesses, lifestyle events, and door-to-door awareness across Cape Town. The next engagement calendar is scheduled to be held for Samora Machel.