Why Families Fled Llandudno Beach After Raw Sewage Spilled Onto Sand

Beachgoers at Llandudno Beach were met with a foul surprise earlier this week after a sewage overflow spilled onto the shoreline, forcing families and visitors to abandon their seaside plans.

What should have been a relaxing day at one of Cape Town’s most popular beaches quickly descended into a smelly ordeal, as a strong stench and visible sewage pooling on the sand raised serious health concerns.

Sewage Stench Forces Families to Abandon Llandudno Beach Day

Witnesses described scenes of confusion as some beach users unknowingly walked close to the affected area before realising what was happening.

Raushan Simons said she arrived at the beach with her family and immediately noticed something was wrong.

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“I still cracked a joke with my family and said the sea must be having stomach cramps, and then we arrived on the beach, and there was really poo flowing onto the sand,” she said.

The family turned around and left shortly afterwards. “I was actually still in shock and only started explaining to the children on the way. We were done with the beach, and we headed elsewhere,” Simons said.

‘Major Health Hazard’ as Sewage Pools on the Sand

Another resident, Anna Stacey, said she was shocked that the beach had not been closed immediately, despite the visible contamination.

“There was a pool starting to gather, and people were dipping their feet in it. This is a major health hazard, and lots of people could get sick,” she said.

Stacey, who had been walking her dogs at the time, said she also decided to call it a day after discovering the sewage spill.

City Blames Sewer Blockage on Foreign Objects

The City confirmed that the incident was caused by a blocked sewer pipe, which led to raw sewerage overflowing onto the beach.

Mayoral committee member for water and sanitation Zahid Badroodien said the spill was unusual for the area.

“A blocked sewage pipe in the vicinity caused the sewage to overflow onto the beach sand,” he said, adding that such incidents were “not a normal occurrence” at Llandudno Beach.

The City said Water and Sanitation teams responded within two hours of receiving complaints and managed to clear the blockage and contain the spill on the shore. Where sewerage reaches swimming waters, warning signage is erected to alert bathers.

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Officials stressed that sewer overflows are often caused by “human behaviours”, particularly the disposal of foreign objects into the sewer system.

Residents were reminded that only human waste, toilet paper and grey water should be flushed, and that nappies and sanitary products must never be disposed of via toilets as they expand and cause blockages.

The Llandudno Civic Association could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.

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