As another round of heavy, continuous rainfall hits the province, the City of Cape Town warns that rivers and canals may fill to capacity and even overflow.
Residents should take the necessary precautions, including using alternative routes where possible, until the rain stops and the stormwater drainage system has time to recover.
Also read: Over R16 million disaster grants allocated to WC storm damage
Heavy rainfall on Tuesday caused various rivers and canals to reach full capacity, with some even overflowing throughout the day. These have since recovered as the rain stopped and stormwater was able to flow freely into the stormwater system, clearing the roads of flooding.
The Liesbeeck River overflowed in some areas, including near Kildare Road. Other rivers and canals that overflowed were the Vygekraal River and the Blomvlei Canal in the Rylands/Crawford area earlier this week.
During heavy rainfall in the central region, the Diep River floods in low-lying areas, affecting neighbouring communities. This river originates in Swartland and flows into Table View’s Rietvlei before ending up in the Milnerton Lagoon. Flooding has also occurred along the Blinkwater stream in Camps Bay.
Find your perfect set of wheels with these incredible deals on cars for under 100k. Find car listings here.
Flood-prone areas in the city’s eastern region include the Sir Lowry’s Pass River near Sir Lowry’s Pass Village and Dennehof Street, the Kuils River at Driftsands Dam, and the Eerste River at Kramat/Sandvlei, Macassar, and the Soet River tributaries through informal settlements in Nomzamo and Lwandle.
‘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,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility Roberto Quintas.
‘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.’
City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, said that 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.’
‘The safety of our residents is paramount, and we urge everyone to take heed of the precautionary advice and measures put in place. By working together and taking responsible actions like keeping our waterways free of foreign objects, we can help mitigate the impact of these heavy rains and ensure our communities remain safe.’
During heavy rainfall and flooding, the public are advised to:
-
Avoid roads surrounding canals and rivers, and consider using alternative routes where possible.
-
Do not attempt to cross canals rivers or fast-flowing water
-
Report emergencies to 021 480 7700
-
Dispose of refuse using the City’s solid waste services
-
Do not dump waste in rivers, canals, sewers and stormwater drains
-
Do not walk or drive in the flood waters
-
Keep gutters and drains free of debris
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city, at half the price? Get exclusive offers here.
Prior to winter, various City departments have been proactive in cleaning the stormwater and sewage infrastructure to help keep the systems clear and reduce the impact of excessive stormwater entering the systems.
It is critical to note that during heavy rain, when rivers and canals overflow, stormwater cannot freely drain from roads into watercourses. As soon there is a break in rain, the flooding with slowly clear.
City emergency teams will be on the ground, responding to and closely monitoring various incidents as they occur.
Also read:
Picture: Nikola Tomašić / Pexels