A STREAM in Glen Anil that has changed colours over the last few months for days at a time is a growing concern for businesses and the local ward councillor.
Last week Northglen News met with councillor Pete Graham to discuss the issue which began earlier this year. The stream which runs alongside businesses on North Coast Road has changed from teal to blue to a dark shade of purple in recent months prompting pollution fears.
Speaking to the newspaper, one business owner, David Moran, said he was deeply concerned about the environmental impact.
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“Our business has been based here for the last 10 years but I’ve never seen anything like this. Earlier this year we had a sewage problem which presented its own problems with pollutants, however, just before the leak we noticed the colour of the stream would change colour from a bright green to a blue. Recently we’ve had the same result with a purple hue to the water.
“I’ve contacted the local councillor who has also put me in touch with the City’s health inspectorate who are also investigating what is causing this problem. I’ve never seen any birds down at the stream nor any fish life which could be an indication of how polluted the water is. Further along North Coast Road there is a collection of rubbish that’s just been dumped there. What worries me the most is this water eventually flows into the uMngeni River,” Moran said.
According to Graham, the City will now be monitoring the stream and will be collecting samples to test the water.
“When we went down to investigate with the city health inspectorate, the assurance was that water stream sampling will be submitted to Ethekwini Municipality Water and Sanitation department and an investigation will be conducted. What has been pleasing has been the City’s reaction to this, they’ve spoken to the concerned parties and have also given them a number to contact who will come out timeously to record the stream the next time it changes colour,” he said.
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