WATCH | Scathing report lays bare extent of sewage crisis at Albert Falls Dam

A scathing uMngeni-uThukela Water report has laid bare the extent of sewage pollution in the Albert Falls catchment, documenting raw sewage flowing from broken sewer systems, overflowing pump stations and poorly functioning wastewater plants into streams and rivers feeding the dam. Among the most disturbing findings is an incident in which inspectors saw a truck from Cedara Wastewater Works discharging sewage sludge into a manhole near the Merrivale River. The report said the incident, witnessed on March 23, created a direct route for the waste to enter the river.

It was apparently not an isolated incident, with another truck previously seen discharging waste into the same manhole. It said this pointed to the absence of a proper disposal plan at the wastewater works. The findings form part of uMngeni-uThukela Water’s May 2026 assessment of the Albert Falls and Nagle dam catchments and paint a picture of sewage infrastructure under severe pressure, with several pollution sources still unresolved months after they were first reported.

Cedara Wastewater Works is among the major concerns. According to the report, the plant is not fully operational but continues to receive raw sewage. Untreated sewage has been flowing through the site into a wetland connected to a stream which eventually reaches the uMngeni River.

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Although repairs are under way, inspections found that sewage was continuing to overflow within the site while maintenance work proceeded. The assessment also documented repeated sewer failures in Merrivale and Howick.

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