GEORGE NEWS - A video depicting brown coloured water pouring into the Garden Route Dam made the rounds on social media and WhatsApp groups since the start of the weekend. It is the second video of this nature to circulate in George.
Residents have expressed their concern on various platforms and are deeply worried about the state of our drinking water and the municipality’s ability to manage the sewerage system.
George Municipality responded with a statement (see below), saying the ongoing load-shedding experienced this past week led to the failure of the backup generator system at the Eden pump station. Municipal spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose said the backup failure led to an overflow consisting of a combination of sludge and sewage. However, she said, the sludge discharged from the Water Treatment Works does not contain any sewage as it is residue from the water treatment process.
George Municipality is monitoring and treating the immediate river area.
On the video, the videographer shares his disgust with the situation, saying, “This is not cool. Just see how the barbel fish is suffering here at this outlet of sewerage into the Garden Route Dam at the Eden Park Station during load-shedding. Thousands and thousands of untreated sewerage running into the dam, spilling the sewerage into our drinking water, which is the only source of drinking water in the Garden Route.” The videographer further comments on the excessive growth of weed on the dam due to unhealthy nutrients released in the dam.
Statement by George Municipality:
Pump station overflow caused by backup failure
George Municipality regrets to advise that the ongoing load-shedding experienced this past week, led to the failure of the backup generator system at the Eden Pump Station.
The backup failure led to an overflow which contained a combination of sludge and sewerage. The sludge discharged from the Water Treatment Works does not contain any sewerage as it is residue from the water treatment process. The Civils Directorate has reported as such to the Department of Water Services (DWS), as per the protocols as stipulated in the municipality’s Wastewater Risk Abatement Plan. The immediate river area is being monitored and has been treated with chemicals as is the standard practice.
The backup failure was compounded by the simultaneous failure of the SCADA system (Supervisory control and data acquisition) due to the load-shedding. Interim measures are being put in place to address such unusual failures with additional physical checks put in place particularly during load-shedding, and the continued upgrading of the Eden Pump Station remaining a high priority.
George Municipality requests members of the public who become aware of such incidents taking place, to please immediately report the matter via the municipal switchboard on 044 801 b9111 or the after-hours number 044 801 6300. The Civil Engineering Services administration building located in York Street does not have active telephone lines during load-shedding. The Disaster Management Centre in Mitchell Street, however, has generator backup and is staffed during load-shedding periods, with an additional civil engineering services complaints staff member to address such queries.
Water quality
As previously stated, the concern that this river water flows into the Garden Route Dam is acknowledged, however the public is assured that water in the dam is sampled and monitored through a fixed statutory water quality monitory programme. Raw water from the Garden Route Dam is treated according to the SANS 241 standard at the Water Treatment Works (purification plant) and the drinking water quality for George complies with the SANS standard.
Kariba weed covering the surface of the Garden Route Dam. Photo: Screenshot from the video
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