GEORGE NEWS - The Garden Route Dam Action Group (Gardag), the local water pollution watchdog, warns in a recent statement that the public should avoid certain rivers in the municipal area of George while the George Municipality is upgrading its sewage infrastructure.
"Intermittent sewage spills have been recorded at the Eden, Parkdene and Schaapkop pump stations," says Desireé du Preez, Gardag chairperson and environ-mental scientist. The latest spill that they have been informed of was on 12 November at the Eden pump station.
George Herald reported in September that a water sample taken by Gardag in the Kat River revealed a 3 900 E.coli reading, which is four times the allowed maximum for recreation.
"Such spills add to the health risk to residents and visitors of recreation exposure."
Du Preez says spillage from the old main sewer line between Denneoord and Eden pump station feeds the Kariba weed that has been re-sprouting every summer since 2013.
"While George Municipality is committed to upgrading the main culprits, namely Eden, Parkdene and Schaapkop sewage pump stations, the work will take several years to complete," says Du Preez.
"Gardag is thus urging George Municipality to introduce bio-remedial measures which are available to neutralise the harmful bacteria and nutrients present in sewage. Hazmat spill kits should be on site in case of spills and the residents kept up to date of the state of affairs."
Du Preez advises communities to be cautious around the Kat River (in George) and Meulen River (in Parkdene and Thembalethu).
In an e-mail response directly to Gardag, the municipality said, "We treat our water quality monitoring test results as discreet and confidential. This information can only be shared with the district municipality, BGCMA and DEADP who also has [sic] monitoring programmes in place for rivers in and around the George Municipal area."
Wilderness rivers
Du Preez says during 2022, high levels of bacteria in the Touw and Kaaimans rivers were also reported at times.
"Research findings into the algae levels in Island Lake by scientists from SANParks and Free State University are being awaited. The Touw River was intermittently closed to the public last December with the Garden Route District Municipality's (GRDM) Disaster Management ordering an investigation."
Du Preez says no action is taken by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning and the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA).
Municipality responds
George Municipality responded that the queries raised have been addressed repeatedly. "Gardag continues to make unsubstantiated and incorrect allegations as well as issue instructions to the public with regard to the safety of rivers. Testing of the Touw River, compliance monitoring and record keeping are conducted by the GRDM.
"Surrounding rivers within the George municipal area are regularly tested by the George Municipality.
"Although not a legislative requirement, George Municipality still tests rivers on which our infrastructure is placed, to monitor pollution or degradation, if and when it occurs, and for reporting purposes to the relevant authorities. George Municipality as it is legislatively required to do so, reports spillage incidents to the relevant authorities, Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning and the BGCMA."
To this response Du Preez says, "If Gardag's lab test results for the Kat River (3900 E.coli) are refuted, then it would make sense for George Municipality to reveal all test results for all our waterways, for what better way to put our collective minds at ease?"
The GRDM referred the newspaper to George Municipality regarding compliance for the Touw River.
No response was received from the BGCMA or Environmental Affairs Department.
Du Preez participated in WaterCAN, an initiative of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) that took place across South Africa between 14 and 18 September. A copy of Outa's report is available on its website (www.outa.co.za).
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