Some Morninghill residents have asked the government to address the pollution of the stream which passes through the suburb.
Foam can be seen floating on the surface of the stream closest to Clarkson Street, after the small waterfall.
According to residents, in previous years the foam would be seen two to three times a year.
“Now it happens more often – almost daily,” said Mr Darko Egersdorfer, a resident who brought the matter to the attention of environmentalists.
Environmental consultant Mr Paul Fairall, said although the foam looks like soap getting into the river, sewage is the greatest polluting factor in the river.
“This causes irreparable ecological and bio-diversity damage to the catchment. Some of the pathogens can live on the river banks for years and E.coli can also survive in the mud and sediment for years,” said Mr Fairall.
He added that poor management of the sewerage systems by the municipality was to blame for the systems falling apart.
“If the relevant departments do not learn to manage and maintain the systems properly, we will witness a total collapse of the structure,” said Mr Fairall.
Mr Irwin Juckes of Edenvale RiverWatch visited the site and upon investigation, he found that the pollution was coming from the city centre.
He said, “The source of the foam pollution is upstream of 10th Street in Bezuidenhout Valley, which probably means it comes from the Johannesburg city centre. The levels of pollution pouring into our river courses are a danger to health. It also impacts on water security.
The ward 20 councillor, Clr Jill Humpreys, condemned the pollution, saying it impacted badly on the environment.
“I have also asked my colleague, Clr Mike Spadino who is responsible for the neighbouring suburbs falling under the City of Joburg’s Ward 118, to investigate the issue from his side of the stream. A senior official from the City of Joburg’s Water Quality and Catchment Management Environment and Infrastructure Services Department said his department would investigate the matter and revert to all parties concerned,” she said.
