Rinaldo ‘orange sludge’ has high levels of E.coli
The City has hazarded a guess that the orange material is Iron Bacteria.
FOUR months after collecting a water sample of a mysterious ‘orange sludge’ which had contaminated the stream running through the Rinaldo Road Park, the City is no closer to identifying the source. Ward 110 councillor, Pete Graham, said he has been battling for months to find a resolution to trace the source of the contaminant material which continues to run through the park.
Graham said water from the Redhill Cemetery runs down on Malacca Road and leaves a trail of the orange sludge along the street before trickling into the stream at Rinaldo Park.
“Two samples were taken at two different points in Rinaldo Park and Redhill Cemetery. They contained high levels of e.coli. The City has hazarded a guess that the orange material is Iron Bacteria. This bacteria takes iron dissolved in ground water and oxidises it (a chemical reaction similar to rust), drawing energy from the process of turning into fuzzy orange gunk. Oxidation prevents iron from dissolving in the water and produces either an orange coloured slime or an oily sheen. This indicates that the stream is partially fed by ground water. The City’s Health Department will continue to monitor the stream and further water samples will be taken for further analysis,” he said.
The Durban North resident said one of his biggest concerns was for the children at the Malacca Road Informal Settlement. The settlement lies at the back of the park.
“I have often seen the children play near the stream. This is extremely concerning, because we have no idea what the source of this contamination is. Another concerning issue is there seems to be no action plan to remedy the situation and protect park users. We don’t know how toxic the water currently is. Signage warning of the danger would be a great place to start,” he said.
