WITH the few remaining fish dying in the Palmiet River, Westville residents have once again called for an urgent pollution intervention.
Residents, who live near the river, said it pains and disturbs them that the large eels, crabs, otters, and the other creatures that were in abundance not many years ago, are all gone.
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Helen Cannon said her family bought their home near the Palmiet River about 27 years ago.
“The river was pristine, crystal clear and teeming with water creatures, fish and water birds. Our children spent hours playing happily in the river, with never a worry about them getting ill,” said Cannon.
Over the last six years, the resident said there has been a never-ending deluge of filthy water coming down through the river.
“We have watched fish floating, belly-up, and a marked reduction of water birds and creatures. It is so toxic that almost nothing can survive. At times, the stench is unbearable,” said the frustrated resident.
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According to Cannon, the sewage spills, which come from the failing pump stations, is a major contributor to the ongoing pollution.
“I wouldn’t put my big toe in that water these days. It is enough to make us seriously ill. All our reports have amounted to nothing. It is really disgusting and someone should be held accountable for this unacceptable devastation of our beautiful river,” said Cannon.
Lee D’Eathe, from the Palmiet River Watch, said he was alerted to the recent pollution by a resident, Chris Carter, who mentioned to him that he and his family had been watching, photographing and sharing pictures of the dying fish on the Palmiet Watch Research group.
“On Saturday, December 12, residents along the Palmiet River, from Birdhurst Road, Cowies Hill Park and Westville North to Palmiet Drive in Westville central, stood by helplessly, watching what was effectively a full-blown sewage canal running right through the Palmiet Rive,” he said.
D’Eathe, who has been monitoring the river for years, said this was not a rare occurrence.
ALSO READ: River pollution still an ongoing issue in Durban
“This has been happening at a rate of 100 river water pollution events every year since 2015. Each time this is reported to the relevant officials, each time we are given a reference number by the municipality, it continues, and continues. It is as if those in charge of fixing these problems in the municipality are incapable of addressing the causes and putting a stop to them,” he said.
D’Eathe also blamed the increased sewage and stormwater flow from development without adequate mitigation.
He pleaded with officials to solve the ongoing, unresolved sewage issues due to the negative impact it has on the environment.
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