Dead Meul River still outlet for raw sewage

GEORGE NEWS - Severe sewage pollution in the Meul River could sink Victoria Bay's Pilot Blue Flag status, warns Pierre Theron, a Ballot's Bay resident.

He is at the end of his tether about repeated sewage spills in the river over many years without a definitive solution being implemented by George Municipality.

The sewage washes out to sea at Ballot's Bay and has been seen many times to move with a current towards the adjacent, internationally known surfers' destination, Vic Bay, that was recently granted Pilot Blue Flag status.

All marine life in the Meul River is dead and more often than not a stench hangs over the magnificent little bay where the river runs into the sea, chasing visitors away.

The municipality has budgeted R26-million in the current book year for upgrading the Meul pump station, which frequently overflows into the river, with ongoing load-shedding worsening the situation.

But Theron says as a temporary and "very simple" measure, the municipality could long ago have installed a generator as backup to prevent spills during power interruptions. "The interruptions are 90% of the problem and a generator would largely eliminate the most severe pollution in the river."

The pollution is carried out to sea at Ballot's Bay, which abuts Vic Bay.

Desireé du Preez, chairperson of the Garden Route Dam Action Group (Gardag), recently reported that the condition of the river is the worst of all the urban rivers in George.

Samples taken by Gardag on 3 November, a week after yet another sewage spill from the pump station, show that the e. coli count was way over the legal standards for recreation (maximum of 500 cfu/100ml). Upstream of the pump station, the count was 1 270 000 cfu/100ml and downstream from the pump station 5 080 000 cfu/100ml.

The acting director of Civil Engineering Services, Lionel Daniels, says the municipality is aware that such incidents cannot be prevented without a generator. One is to be hired and installed - as part of their upgrade planning - as a temporary measure while the 11-month project is being completed. The tender for the upgrade is underway. The generator would be installed "when possible".

All marine life is dead. This photograph was taken at the end of October.

Theron says the Meul River used to have very clear water with high visibility.

"Now it's constantly brown. People who come to visit the bay do not hang around for longer than a few minutes these days because of the stench. At low tide a stinking sludge remains on the river banks.

"It is unthinkable that such an exquisite little beach has to suffer such pollution while a simple solution is available. I do not think the authorities or officials realise the extent of the damage that is being caused, also to Vic Bay's status."

Du Preez agrees that pollution fall-outs in Ballot's Bay will affect Victoria Bay and its ability to be a prime tourist destination with healthy and safe water to swim and surf in. She also highlights the problem of trash, especially plastic, choking up most of the urban rivers, as revealed in a recent survey by Gardag.

The once clear water of the Meul River is dark brown. This photograph was taken at the end of October.