The Department of Emergency Services recently released a report with a list of extremely high risks within the metro.
Details of the list also raised the concern of the functioning of the metro’s departments regarding these risks.
“Groundwater pollution is an extremely high risk in Ekurhuleni.
“Our severely contaminated waterways are a case in point.
“Our rivers, streams, wetlands and dams are carrying inordinate amounts of largely untreated sewage and toxins.
“The reasons are numerous, but the source of the problem is our human resources department’s inability to provide our council with a functioning inspectorate,” said Clr Jill Humphreys, a DA ward councillor in the metro.
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According to Humphreys, uncontrolled urban densification, encroachment, water treatment plants running beyond capacity (as much as 210 per cent beyond capacity), unmaintained and decaying sewerage infrastructure and strong ground motion are among the issues that exacerbate the existing problem, while perpetrators are not being penalised for industrial toxins and sewage flowing freely.
“Our metro has a ‘weak’ relationship with the Department of Geoscience in terms of monitoring ground movement.
“This is extremely alarming given that our metro resides on highly dolomitic and intensely mined ground.
“Our Gauteng Development Strategy (GDS) requires that as a metro, we should grow and develop observing principles of resilience.
“It goes without saying that continued neglect of this matter is a dangerous omission,” said Humphreys.
The DA sent a list of requests to the metro regarding addressing pollution in groundwater, water treatment, and toxins found in our wetlands and streams and when the GCN contacted the metro for comment, Themba Gadebe spokesperson for the metro said, “Monitoring conducted by the water quality section is done to identify any pollution originating from sewer blockages and by reporting it to the individual water services depots.
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“They aim to resolve the matter when traces of pollution or the illegal discharge of industrial effluents are found.”
Addressing the requests made by the DA, the metro gave the GCN further comment:
• Request by the DA: That our groundwater is regularly tested and that the results be made known.
• The metro’s answer: There is currently no groundwater monitoring programme for the metro, however, information is received from the national Department of Water and Sanitation and individual studies.
• Request: That our river/dam/wetland water testing results be made known.
• Answer: Monitoring by the water quality section is only done in stormwater channels, rivers, streams and dams for internal use only.
• Request: That effective monitoring, evaluation and management of our ambient air take place; with observable and quantifiable results.
• Answer: The metro has a network of 10 air-quality monitoring stations across Ekurhuleni and the data captured is sent to the South African Air Quality Information System (SAQIS), SA Weather Services and Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) for verification. The metro’s air quality information can be retrieved from SAQIS.
Air quality monitoring is part of the Service Delivery and Budget Implantation Plan (SDBIP) targets which are reported every quarter.
Atmospheric emission licences are also provided for all industries that have listed their activities to ensure that their impacts on the environment are managed.
The answer to the request made by the DA stating an urgent engagement with the Department of Geoscience should be sought by the metro and the instability risks of specific areas are made known was not provided.
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