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GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - George Herald has received two separate complaints during February and March of an alleged sewage pollution problem at Victoria Bay that is not being fully resolved. 

Both complainants are regular surfers (one male and one female) at the bay.

The female surfer provided photos taken on 4 February of water trickling along the shallow furrow on the left-hand side of the road (towards the bay) that she said contained raw sewage. The male surfer sent a video taken on 14 March of alleged sewage-contaminated water flowing down this furrow. He also aired concern that the storm water pipe that empties onto the beach on a spot where children like to play is sometimes also contaminated. He has laboratory tests to prove it.

George Municipality commented that the water moving down the furrow does not originate from a sewage leak/spill and there is no sewerage infrastructure on that side of the road. "It is in fact a historical fountain that flows. The water emanating from the fountain has been tested and the embankment has been opened to ensure that it was not a pipe burst."

The male surfer supplied test results from Outeniqua Laboratory Services in Sedgefield - samples submitted on 3 June 2022 and 28 February 2023 - of the water flowing down the furrow and of water flowing from the storm water pipe onto the beach. 

Both these tests show that the e. coli and faecal coliform counts on those two occasions were way above the limit for human contact. A sample of sea water, however, was within the limit.

"This has been an ongoing problem. The municipality seems to be aware of this but has made no attempt to warn bathers or parents of kids playing in this water beneath the storm water runout," the surfer said.

The lab results on the water samples he submitted on 3 June 2022 were as follows:

Sea water: e. coli count of 22 cfu/100ml and faecal coliform count of 80 cfu/100ml (both within the limits for recreational contact).

Storm water outflow onto the beach: e. coli count of 56 000 cfu/100ml and faecal coliform count of 300 000 cfu/100ml.

The lab results on the samples submitted on 28 February 2023:

Storm water outflow onto the beach: e. coli count of 600 cfu/100ml and faecal coliform count of 3 400 cfu/100ml.

Stream flowing along the furrow towards the bay (on left hand side of the road): e. coli count of 9 800 cfu/100ml and faecal coliform count of 9 900 cfu/100ml.

(E. coli levels at designated swimming beaches should not exceed 88 per 100 ml in any one sample, or exceed a three-sample geometric mean average over a 60-day period of 47/100 ml.)

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Municipality responds

George Municipality said the sea water at Vic Bay is tested three times per week during peak season (Blue Flag pilot status) and follow-up tests are done if its controllers suspect there may be a problem or possible spill. "Throughout the year, water testing is only performed prior to and during surfing competitions, and/or if we know of/or suspect a spillage. The water quality has remained within full contact specifications to date with no closure of the beach taking place over the very busy festive season.

"The sewage pump station in the parking lot is checked every second day by process controllers throughout the year. The fat trap of the food facilities is also checked regularly for build-up as this has historically caused the majority of blockages and pump station failures. After a pump station incident, the area is cleaned and follow-up water quality tests are performed."

Civil Engineering Services is upgrading the Meul River sewer pump station which occasionally experiences problems when it rains due to storm water ingress through the sewer gravity pipelines. "All spills are dealt with according to the George municipal waste water risk abatement plan and reported to the relevant authorities (Environmental Affairs Department and Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency).

"As a standard the municipality does not erect warning signs of possible sewer spills at storm water outlets and this proposal is not supported. The municipality has indicated previously that we do not acknowledge external private samples and readings," said the municipality.

No squatters
The female surfer said she suspected that sewage was coming from a small building next to the parking area that was apparently being occupied by squatters, however, Garden Route District Municipality said there were no squatters. 

The building is being renovated to serve as a booking office. A security company that is contracted to guard the camping sites during the night, also guards this site. "The renovations are in progress and 70% complete. The office will open as soon as the renovations are complete, which is anticipated to be by mid-May," said the municipality.

The furrow from which a water sample was tested privately.

This building is being renovated by the Garden Route District Municipality to serve as a booking office.

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