Residents have raised concerns over an apparent poisoning of Bartlett Lake, believed to have resulted in the mass death among the fish population in the water.
Residents complained the dead fish and the state of the lake have been subjecting the surrounding area to a mysterious foul smell, putting their health at risk.
It is suspected the harmful pollutants are from the industrial units in the catchment areas of the lake.
“Since the first day of the recent heavy rains, the water has been flooded with toxic waste, which smells terrible and now all the fish in the dam have floated up and are dead.
“Our concern is that if this water is toxic and is killing the fish, what else could it be doing not only to the wildlife but also to people, who are unaware of the risks?” said one of the concerned residents, Brent Proudfoot.
Ward 17 councillor Simon Lapping said he was also made aware of the suspected pollution of the lake, and his investigation suggested the untreated effluents may have been from the nearby innumerable industrial units.
“I investigated the problem. To me it looks like diesel that may have come from a nearby transport company. I have suggested the Office Park management test the water in order to establish exactly what the toxic chemicals are, and perhaps help in determining the source,” said Lapping.
Following complaints about the suspected pollution that has resulted in fish dying in the lake, the metro dispatched its team to investigate the reports on October14.
Once identified, the culprits can be handed over to competent authorities, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) and Department of Water and Sanitation, for possible legal action.
“The dam receives run-off from several sources, including the N12 highway, several industries and the airport which may have been responsible for the death of the fish. However, such urban catchments are complex to manage and will require further investigation,” said metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe.
Gadebe stated it could not be substantiated that dying of fish was as a result of run-off from the airport runway, as previously suspected.
When asked as to when will the water be tested, Gadebe said: “The dam will be included in the monthly monitoring schedule. However, it would have been more beneficial to take the dead fish to the lab within four hours of the incident, as this would have determined the causes. Fish-kill investigations are very involved and need to be undertaken as soon as possible.”
According to the metro, normally the first rain washes off many pollutants from the catchment into dams and streams as these are the lowest drainage points.
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