The actions have required a deep cleaning of sediments and the installation of new pipes
The accumulation of wet wipes and other personal hygiene items causes blockages in the network
The City Council of San Sebastián de La Gomera, through the Department of Public Works, announces that the repair works carried out in the Plaza de Las Américas sanitation network have been completed, given the constant problems of obstructions and bad odors registered for years.
The actions have required a deep cleaning of sediments and impurities, caused mainly by the improper disposal of wet wipes and other personal hygiene items, which are expressly prohibited from being disposed of through the toilet as they cause obstruction of the sanitation network.
The mayor of San Sebastián de La Gomera, Angélica Padilla, stressed that "in recent years, municipal workers have reinforced scheduled cleanings and specific surveillance of the sanitation network, in addition to specific interventions to address breakdowns in the system, making clear the serious problem caused by the pouring of wet wipes and other unauthorized objects into the toilet."
Angélica Padilla also pointed out that "this situation generates deep discomfort among citizens, both among our neighbors and among the people who visit us due to bad odors, and represents a considerable increase in public spending as a result of maintenance and repair work that must be carried out more frequently than usual."
For his part, the Councilor for Public Works, Agustín Herrera, indicated that "this is a structural problem that has worsened over the years. In recent months, the rains and storms have intensified this problem, especially in a critical point such as the Plaza de Las Américas, with a vault that is more than 40 years old and made of concrete, which presented many limitations due to its size and design. For all this, we have had to drill to clean the system by eliminating all the plugs formed. by a conglomerate of wipes and other waste.”
Herrera added that "after carrying out a deep and intensive cleaning, which has required a great effort on the part of the City Council's team of operators, we have proceeded to install a larger pipe inside the vault, which will provide greater efficiency and reliability to the system." Likewise, he announced that a sedimentation chamber will be installed, which will prevent all these impurities from affecting the proper functioning of the pumping station and the sanitation network.
The City Council of San Sebastián de La Gomera insists on the importance of making responsible use of wet wipes and other personal hygiene items, respecting the manufacturer's instructions that prohibit throwing this type of non-biodegradable elements into the toilet, to prevent future incidents and guarantee the correct functioning of the sanitation network.
