Update
GEORGE NEWS - The water quality in the Wilderness Lagoon at Freesia Rock is within the required standards of the Water Affairs Department.
This is according to SANParks Regional Communications Manager Nandi Mgwadlamba.
She responded to allegations that sewage is spilled into the Wilderness Lagoon every time the power to a municipal sewage pump station in Freesia Avenue, Wilderness, is interrupted.
Mgwadlamba said they conduct regular tests on the quality of the water in the Wilderness Lagoon together with the George Municipality.
"We have never picked up high counts of e. coli that would support this claim.
"Our ranger in the area has confirmed e. coli counts are lower than ever at this specific spot at Freesia Rock.
"There are no inflows of sewerage into the Touw River currently, however there is a problem with an overflow of a municipal site close by this site.
"It is understandable that this will upset residents but there is no flow into the river."
Test results for the Touw system for this year supplied to the newspaper show a nought e. coli count at Freesia Rock (measured on 16 February).
"We have inspected each spill and none of the times has the sewage actually run into the river.
"The e. coli test results also reflect this and are well below water quality standards set by the Department of Water Affairs.
"According to the department's guidelines, the acceptable target for recreational areas is between 0-130 to 130 ml.
"If there was raw sewage in the system we would have picked up test results in the 1000's."
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