Mattresses and bins found in stormwater drains amid flooding chaos

Mattresses and wheelie bins are among the debris pulled from stormwater systems across Cape Town after a weekend of sustained downpours that triggered widespread localised flooding.

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“Water has, for the most part, drained as it should, except in areas where structures have been built illegally over bulk stormwater and sewerage infrastructure. When this happens, our maintenance teams cannot access the systems to clear them,” he said.

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Stormwater infrastructure is designed to drain water over time, not instantly during heavy downpours, Quintas said, noting that flooding is only considered a system failure if water does not recede after rainfall subsides.

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