GEORGE NEWS - A video clip that did the rounds on social media on Sunday 7 March, showing raw sewage pumping into what seemed to be the Garden Route Dam, left many Georgians worried and confused.

According to municipal spokesperson Chantèl Edwards-Klose, George Municipality is well aware of the footage. She responded earlier today, saying the pipe in question is located at the Eden Pump Station and is the required overflow pipe for the pump station.

"The incident of Sunday 7 March was an overflow from the Eden Pump Station, which took place because the pumps were not able to cope with the standard discharge of sludge from the Water Treatment Works, which coincided with an incoming high flow from the sewerage line entering the pump station," said Edwards-Klose. 

"Such high flows occur generally at peak times such as early morning, lunchtime and early evening, but occasionally a random high flow will be experienced which is not possible to predict. The overflow pipe then handles the excess until the pumps are able to accommodate the load being received."

Screenshot of the video that did the rounds on social media. 

Alert Level 2
Edwards-Klose said normally the sludge discharged from the Water Treatment Works does not contain any sewage, as it is residue from the water treatment process. 

"The overflow is however a combination of sludge and sewage, and was therefore reported as per protocols Alert Level 2," she said. "The immediate river area is monitored and treated with chemicals. Such overflows are of a short duration and are random occurrences. All of the pump stations are fitted with an alarm system to alert the officials to such incidents. The Civil Engineering Department is monitoring and amending the system works to prevent such overflows occurring and the continued upgrading of the Eden Pump Station remains a high priority."

Edwards-Klose acknowledged concern that this river water then flows into the Garden Route Dam. However, she gave the assurance 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 water drinking quality for George complies with the SANS standard."

Photo: Video screenshot

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