WITH reference to the article ‘No end to Umbilo River pollution’ I would like to bring to the public’s attention that there is an established Umbilo River Watch WhatsApp communication group (contact number 084 4379631) which is affiliated with the Pinetown Conservancy and was established around 2014.
With regards to the pollution in the river, coming down from the Westmead area, the public are mistaken to think that it is always from illegal dumping, being quick to blame the factories for polluting the river.
ALSO READ: No end to Umbilo River pollution
It is often a blocked sewer that is to blame. Businesses dealing with chemicals are obligated to adhere to strict procedure when discharging chemical waste into the sewer system. They are subject to inspection and receive a licence to do so. If a factory was found to have violated it’s usage of the sewer system, they receive a R5000 fine.
The municipality do no routine maintenance of the sewer system such as clearing bush, removing litter, and checking that the sewers are flowing freely. So, over time, problems occur which cause the sewer to be blocked and thus discharge into the river. When such pollution occurs, the consequences are monumental for the environment.
Residents and business owners whose properties border the Umbilo River, have been called upon over the years to rally together to form a ‘team’ to monitor the river, as was done recently with The Aller River Pilot Project.
ALSO READ: Aller River Project wins two awards
It takes manpower and funding to establish and run such a project which will focus primarily on maintaining the banks of the river and report pollution timeously. Unfortunately, the Pinetown Conservancy has not had any interest from the public or businesses at all.
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