Province investigates sludge

Update

GEORGE NEWS - Officials of the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP) were in George early in the week to investigate public complaints of sewage contamination of the Meulen River and Ballot's Bay.

This follows a major sewage spill in middle February that put the spotlight on the plight of the river and the bay that have been afflicted by spillages since 2016.

Sally Kennedy, environmental director of the Ballot's Heights Property Owners Association, told George Herald the DEADP officials were dismayed by black sludge at the bottom of the estuary.

James-Brent Styan, DEADP spokesperson, did not want to confirm that black sludge was present, but said the investigation is ongoing. "The officials did tests and are awaiting the results."

The association's three water samples tested by Mérieux NutriSciences in Cape Town showed e. coli levels of over 30 000 cfu/100ml. These were taken at the river bridge, in the estuary and in the sea. Kennedy expressed grave concern over the George Municipality's statement earlier that the water was safe for swimming after a "clean-up".

On Monday the municipality said although a second spill reported by residents is being investigated, it stood by its declaration on 18 February that their water tests at Ballot's Bay / Meulen River indicated levels "well within acceptable levels" for swimming.

It emphasised that its river water quality monitoring meets legal requirements.

In response to concern about effluent from the Eden waste water plant discharged into the Schaapkop River, the municipality said that this water is "elaborately treated" and complies with "quality standards".

It acknowledged, though, that "ageing infrastructure, above-average population growth and related new infrastructure demand and a significantly understaffed civil engineering services department" as well as budgetary constraints contribute to the risk of river contamination. However, it remained adamant "that everything that can be done is being done" to address the situation, including finding funding to upgrade bulk infrastructure.

Independent local water engineer
Independent local water engineer, Retief Kleynhans of Gorra Water, told the newspaper that George has always been known to manage its infrastructure well. "We should cherish that and not allow degradation. Things like our dam and the reverse osmosis treatment plant are things to be proud of. That said, I really do not know how one can manage municipal water in today's age with the fast-growing demand on the one hand and a shortage of funding on the other."

Warren Lubbe, estate manager for the Ballot's Heights Property Owners Association, shows sludge scooped from the bottom of the river estuary.

The municipality issued the following statement regarding the Meulen River issue:
George Municipality notes the email as received internally from a representative of the Ballots Bay HOA suggesting a second spill at the Meulen River which is being investigated.

These complaints have also been reported to the Department of Environmental Affairs by the Ballots Bay HOA and a formal response will be made by the George Municipality to that department.

Feedback will not be given via the media to the representatives. The municipality invites the representatives to set up a meeting with the Civils Department to discuss the matter as well as the sampling results as provided by the HOA.

We again reiterate the statement issued on 18 February with the results of our testing of the water at Ballots Bay (Meulen River) and Victoria Bay Culvert and sea water as at 14 February 2020 (read the statement here).

River health
The George Municipality has a legal obligation to monitor river quality up and down stream of the wastewater treatment plants where effluent is discharged into the river. This is done in accordance with the License or General Authorisation applicable for the wastewater plant issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation. While it is not a legal requirement, river samples are also taken up and down stream of pump stations as a management tool to monitor possible pollution from infrastructure.

There are 110 sewage pump stations in the greater George Municipal Area, some of which are situated near rivers and streams. As with any man-made infrastructure, systems can fail and may cause pollution.

The George Municipality has identified the most likely places in rivers below pump stations where pollution may occur and samples are taken and tested daily at the municipal laboratory as part of standard operating procedures.

When a test sample indicates unacceptable levels of contamination, whether the source is sewage or some other contaminant, the area is treated accordingly as per guidelines of the Department of Water and Sanitation as prescribed in the General Authorisation or License requirement.

Results of the municipality’s fixed sampling programme is circulated to GRDM and is made available to the provincial and national departments on request. Members of the public and/or media requesting such sample results must complete a PAIA application.

The municipality also has a waste water risk abatement plan, which is submitted to the Department of Water Affairs as required.

Response to public reports
In addition, the civil engineering department responds to reports of sewage spills from the public. The municipality welcomes, in fact encourages, the public to help look out for sewage spills everywhere, near rivers or not, as alert and attentive residents are a valuable ally in being our eyes and ears – especially in remote areas where hikers and adventure sportsmen may come upon pollution sources that municipal staff may not readily encounter.

Treated effluent from the Waste Water Treatment Works is also flushed into rivers, but has been elaborately treated, complies to quality standards and is not harmful to humans and animals.

Risk of river contamination
The George Municipality acknowledges that several challenges contribute to the risk of river contamination including aging infrastructure, above-average population growth and related new infrastructure demand, and a significantly understaffed Civil Engineering Services department combined with major legislative, procedural and budgetary constraints. That being said, the municipality is adamant that everything that can be done is being done and that it is making a concerted effort to address contributory factors on several levels.

Stystematic upgrade
The George Municipality’s Water Services Development Plan is a detailed long-term plan in which the systematic upgrade and expansion of water and sewerage infrastructure is set out and prioritised based on age of infrastructure, amount of people being serviced per infrastructure, current and future bulk needs and funds available.

The plan is updated regularly to address changing circumstances. Due to challenges as mentioned above, it is unlikely that the municipality can fulfil its water and sewage infrastructure mandate without outside financial assistance from government grants and legitimate environmental and other initiatives.

George Municipality is investigating ways in which especially the significant financial need for the upgrading of bulk infrastructure can be addressed, which in turn would reduce pollution and ultimately contribute to a better and healthier environment.

The municipalities reiterate that river water is not drinking water, and like any open water source, rivers are susceptible to many natural contaminants.

We are, however, fortunate that our river systems are supported by healthy wetlands and other natural agents, which play a major role in naturally filtering contaminants long before it lands in water collection points such as the Garden Route Dam.

It should also be noted that the drinking water in your taps is not water directly from the river, and possible river contamination is not directly equal to the quality of the water in the taps.

The once crystal clear Meulen River mouth is now constantly dark brown.

In regards to ‘independent sampling’
George and Garden Route District Municipalities from time to time receive sampling results from members of the public, which they claim prove rivers remain contaminated.

While the municipalities do not dispute that the places may very well have been temporarily polluted, they cannot legally accept results of random samples as there are many factors that can affect the results of a testing sample such as the type of sample (bacteriological or chemical); the cleanliness of the sampling container; the sampling site; sampling procedure; laboratory analysis procedure; the laboratory accreditation; the time from sampling to testing; testing conditions and more.

Also, from the time that a sample has been taken by a private individual to the time he would receive the results, it is likely that the conditions at the site where sampling was made would have changed – particularly if it was reported to the correct authorities and treated, but also due to weather conditions such as temperature, natural change in river flow after rain etc.)