Wildlife in Bruma dying
Several birds and Egyptian geese died as a result of a poisonous algae bloom which formed on Bruma Lake.
This is according to Mr Paul Fairall, an environmentalist and the chairperson of the Jukskei River Catchment Area Management Forum.
He lashed out at the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) stating that it had failed to act swiftly on his warnings of a possible health risk.
He voiced yet another warning last week, about the potential implications the sewage-filled lake and Jukskei River could have on wildlife and people.
“With the vast amount of sewage coming into Bruma Lake, no oxygen is left in the lake. This, combined with the recent heat wave, has caused an algae bloom to form on the lake. The toxins are killing wildlife,” he said.
Last week, Mr Angus Macmillan, the spokesman for the City Lodge Hotel Group which has a hotel next to Bruma Lake, said the first dead bird was found on January 20.
The lake cleaner, who was hired to clean the lake by hotel management due to the impact it is having on the business, collected 20 dead birds in total.
Any sick birds found were taken to the FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
Ms Nicci Wright, from the centre, said the birds were paralysed. “This is symptomatic of poisoning. Three of the birds brought to us are being rehabilitated,” she said. The other birds died.
She raised concerns about the birds drinking the water from the lake. “The problem is that some birds could be drinking the water, flying to other areas and dying. So what we are aware of is not the total damage caused,” she said. An investigation to determine the cause of death will be conducted.
Mr Nthatisi Modingoane, from the CoJ, said the city is aware that birds and geese are dying.
He said the city considers this situation as a priority and a post-mortem needs to be done to determine the exact cause of death.
The lake cleaner ceased his cleaning duties on January 30.
Mr Macmillan said the man was off sick on January 27, complaining of a chest infection and flu-like symptoms. “He informed the clinic of his duties and the condition of the lake, however they did not confirm that the lake was the cause of his illness,” said Mr Macmillan.
When asked if people are in danger of getting sick, Mr Modingoane said Bruma Lake is not for domestic or recreation activities and therefore there is no danger to people.
Mr Fairall believes otherwise. “People who are in close proximity to the lake, or who come into contact with the water, are in danger. The noxious gases can cause skin irritation. If ingested, it can attack the liver and affect the nervous system. The same goes for people who are exposed to the water in the Jukskei River. Vagrants are using the river in areas such as Bez Park to bath. People go to the park and children play in the water. They are all exposed to disease. I repeatedly warned council of the health risks posed,” said Mr Fairall.
He said the amount of sewage and litter emanating from abandoned or hijacked buildings entering the Jukskei River is concerning.
“The litter in the city is excessive and large volumes of litter finds its way into the storm water system. This causes blockages that prevents the normal flow of storm water that then enters the unsealed lids of the sewer system, forcing a mixture of sewage and storm water to decant into the Jukskei River. At present the lake and surrounds presents an unrecorded state of neglect. The lack of open water has raised questions as to the oxygenating ability of the expensive solar bees, which in our opinion, were incorrectly placed on the lake. This activates, among other things, the large inert quantities of phosphates and other heavy metals, sending them down river to further pollute the Haartbeespoort Dam.
“The large quantities of raw sewage and the lack of oxygen has caused the lake to become eutrophic. There were also two massive sewage spills that put further pressure on the river and lake,” he said.
When asked about the sewage spills, Mr Modingoane said, “The source of pollution was a blocked sewer manhole in Bertrams. A site visit was undertaken by the city to one of the problem sites. The design of the sewer and storm water network in Bertrams is a super-imposed system. The sewer line is underneath the storm water network. So when the sewer network blocks, it flows into the storm water that then discharges into the upper Jukskei and ultimately ends up in Bruma Lake.
“Due to sewer spillage, evidence of algae growth at the lake was noticed. With regard to the dying birds, it cannot be confirmed if it is the result of the sewer pollution. Joburg Water appointed the contractor to rectify the sewer blockage and work commenced on the February 4. The controlling of litter and debris is due to start in February 12,” he said.
Mr Modingoane added that a storm water patrol team conducts inspections every week and in this case, was pivotal in pinpointing this blockage.
“Joburg Water is concluding a CCTV investigation to determine the superimposed system and this will inform what interventions must be undertaken where, and associated costs. The housing department is implementing a bad building strategy which involves identification, profiling, consultation with owners, issuing of notices, evictions and rehabilitation at owners expense,” he said.
Mr Modingoane added that the solar bees were removed from the lake due to long-term interventions that are due to start in March.
Mr Macmillan said the hotel group would like to see the rehabilitation of the lake finally happen to put an end to the continued negative impact it is having on the area and the hotel.
