GEORGE NEWS - Concerns over the impact of sewage spills into the Gwaiing River and potential leachate from the Gwaiing landfill site into this river have arose again in light of the draft river management plans the George Municipality recently announced.
The outlet of the Gwaiing River is a key recreational attraction among residents and visitors. Blanche Benjamin, a Pacaltsdorp resident, says the quality of the river water is a constant worry, especially after a major sewage spill into the river earlier this year, on 20 May.
The municipality was faced with challenging repairs, because the burst pipeline was located beneath the landfill.
"This incident has us worried about similar events potentially occurring in the future. The municipality's river management plans show that sewage spills are a major cause of pollution in our rivers."
Resident Pauline Lourens aired her concerns over the proximity of the landfill to the river and the potential of leaching of heavy metals.
Heavy metals in soil persist for a long time and pose risks to aquatic life and potentially human health.
The municipality's communications manager, Chantèl Edwards, said testing for heavy metals is not part of the municipality's standard in-house river monitoring programme.
However, a 2024 geohydrological study of the landfill site found that salts may move to groundwater, but metals such as aluminium, copper, iron and lead are mostly retained in the clay soils and do not reach the river in significant concentrations.
"Potential seepage risks are being addressed through the Section 24G Environmental Authorisation Rectification Process for the Gwaiing Waste Management Facility, which includes measures to manage and mitigate leachate."
Blanche Benjamin. Photo: Alida de Beer
Sewage spill
Edwards said the sewage spill of 20 May had been handled through immediate emergency repairs while sewage entering the river was intercepted and temporarily diverted into a clay-lined future composting dam on the waste site.
From there it was transported to the Gwaiing wastewater treatment works.
The burst happened in the rising sewer main that runs from the experimental farm pump station through the waste site, in a section of the pipeline that is located underneath the landfill site.
Edwards said given the risks of working beneath the landfill and to prevent future failures, the affected section of pipeline was permanently rerouted around the landfill and the old line decommissioned.
Monitoring of water quality
As part of its in-house river monitoring programme, the municipality takes biweekly water samples at strategic points in rivers and beaches in George to test for contamination through its laboratory services section. Sampling frequency is increased if irregularities are detected.
"The entire Gwaiing River catchment is monitored, with samples taken from multiple points - from Gwaiing Beach upstream to Blanco and Fancourt (Malgas River) and including the Camphersdrift River. Water quality in the catchment generally varies," said Edwards.
Following the pipe burst, additional testing was conducted at the Gwaiing River and Gwaiing Beach, and once results showed a return to acceptable levels, they were made available through a media release.
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