‘Bin It, Don’t Block It’

Cape Town City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate participated in a lively community activation at the bustling Parow Market on Saturday, 24 May 2025. Organised by the Mayoral Urban Regeneration Programme (MURP), the event created a platform for residents to engage with various City departments and also get assistance with water and sanitation-related services. Through interactive games and pamphlet distribution, 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.

The purpose of the exhibition was to bring municipal services closer to residents. For the Water and Sanitation Directorate, it was an important platform to discuss how individual waste disposal choices made everyday, directly impact on environmental and living conditions. When sewer infrastructure is misused, communities suffer from persistent sewer blockages and overflows.

Residents were encouraged to take small, but meaningful steps to help turn the situation around. Actions 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 illegally opened to dump bins or building rubble; or being stolen leaving the entire sewer pipe network exposed to foreign objects entering the system.

Through one-on-one interactions, residents become more aware of how infrastructure is being misused in their own surroundings.

‘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 reducing sewer-related incidents,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.

‘The Water and Sanitation Community Engagement unit is a dedicated resource, working in the heart of all communities to drive behavioural change. They also serve as a valuable information resource for both residents and operational teams, as they identify obstacles which may be preventing change from practically 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 behaviour,’ said Cllr Badroodien.

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 stop on the engagement calendar is Samora Machel.

What residents can do to help reduce sewer overflows:

• Don’t flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper. Anything else will block the pipes. For more tips, see www.capetown.gov.za/blocked-sewers .
• Use the City’s solid waste services provided to get rid of your waste, not drains.
• Report vandalism to the sewage reticulation system and stolen or missing sewer manhole covers.
• Use the City’s drop-off facilities to get rid of any solid waste. See the City’s drop-offs for recyclables: https://bit.ly/3mhagVh
• Report sewer blockages and overflows using one of the City’s official channels so they can be cleared in a reasonable timeframe.

Report water and sewer requests to one of these channels:

• Call 0860 103 089
• SMS (water faults): 31373
• Email: water@capetown.gov.za
• WhatsApp: 060 018 1505
• Online: www.capetown.gov.za/ServiceRequests
• Walk-in Centres and Subcouncil offices