UPDATE: EMM Bullfrog Pan results differ from interpretation given to BCT
It is denying a sewage problem.
The results of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) water tests, taken at the Bullfrog Pan, differ to samples taken by the City Times, which were interpreted by two university lecturers.
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Metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe said the metro tested water in Bullfrog Pan on March 20.
He said the results do not indicate severe sewage pollution.
“Although the chemical oxygen demand is elevated, the Faecal Coli (FC), ammonia (N), phosphate (PO4) that is usually associated with sewer pollution, is very low,” he said.
The City Times had the pan’s water tested on January 25 and reported on March 16 that two lecturers at the University of Witwatersrand had analysed and interpreted the results.
Lecturers Dr David Furniss and Dr Gavin Snow said they believe the pan has a sewage problem as was supported by the high total organic carbon, ammonium and E. coli count.
Snow said, “the ammonia is really high”.
On April 20, the City Times reported about a concerned owner of a business adjacent to the Bullfrog Pan who phoned the City Times about fish dying rapidly in the pan.
The woman, who preferred not to be named due to her business interest in the area, said they have been retrieving and photographing “buckets full of fish” since November.
She said dead fish had been found almost daily over a period of a week.
The City Times visited the site and confirmed that dead fish were present.
Gadebe said the department conducted a site visit together with the Water and Sanitation Department on April 17.
“During the site visit there were no dead fish observed,” Gadebe said.
“However, water samples have been taken to ascertain the quality of the water in the pan.
“These may then be used to see what could be the possible cause of the fish dying.
“A more conclusive result can be attained through laboratory analyses of the dead fish itself.
“The fresh dead fish sample needs to be taken to the laboratory within four hours of death.
“We urge the community to alert the department as soon as they observe dead fish so that samples can be taken to the laboratory timeously.”
When asked what the EMM will do to ensure the pan is looked after, Gadebe said the Department of Water and Sanitation “has initiated a project proposal to conserve and manage the pan … together with the Endangered Wildlife Trust”.
He said the department is sourcing funding for the project.
The same project proposal was, according to Gadebe, put to the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives for possible funding.
When asked when the EMM will prioritise the rehabilitation of the landfill adjacent the pan, Gadebe said the Ekurhuleni metro will finalise the appointment of a service provider by April 26.
“The investigation and implementation of the remedial action on the Bullfrog Pan should start on May 1,” he added.
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