Sewage taking over our waterways
“No one likes coming to a an area which stinks. It is depressing to see all the plastic lining the river banks,”
By Stephan Lehman
Horwood’s Farm, home to the only heritage site in Edenvale, seems to be falling further into disrepair with each passing month.
The once nostalgic and iconic homestead sits behind a steel fence, grass has taken control of the pathways and a small bush of barbed wire rusts further into the ground.
Although this is a new concern, sewage in the spruit has been brought to the NEWS’ attention.
Clr Heather Hart (Ward 18) said over the past few months, the water flowing through Horwood’s Farm has become increasingly polluted with sewage.
She believes the source of the sewage pollution in the water is coming from a sewage leak in Klopperpark.
Last year the NEWS published an article of a petition urging the municipality to repair a sewer leak in Klopperpark.
The water from Klopperpark connects with the Hurlyvale Spruit just outside Horwood’s Farm near Main Road.
“The municipality has been alerted to the sewage leak but nothing appears to be done about it,” said Hart.
Since the sewage has been introduced into the water system the dam at Edenvale’s beloved park has turned a blueish gray.
Hart explained that until a few years ago the dam was in a relatively good condition.
Now litter lines the side of the water, broken trees, cut off logs float in the water, algae has grown on the dam wall and not a fish nor crab can be seen in the dam.
Although no fish can be seen in the spruit there is an abundance of birdlife washing amongst the litter in the spruit while a Gray Lourie was perched in the branches above the water.
Hart said the small dam in Horwood’s Farm was once home to White Swans.
“I am beyond frustration. This is an easy issue to resolve if the municipality attended to it,” said Hart.
She said if nothing is done the pollution will further destroy the environment and the water will become “just another polluted dam in a water scarce country”.
Since first elected as ward councillor in 2011, attending to the water system cutting through Horwood’s Farm has been on Hart’s agenda.
“I once wanted to do a clean-up and ask for volunteers to help but I can’t do that because the water condition is so bad.
“What will people contract if they fall into the putrid water?”
Because the dam is in a poor condition Hart added that community members are less likely to come to the park or close to the water.
“No one likes coming to an area which stinks. It is depressing to see all the plastic lining the river banks,” elaborated Hart.
A request to comment was sent to the EKurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s on August 30 requesting comment by September 1 at 9.30am.
At the time of publication, no comment had been received.
