Concentration of pesticides detected drops around Cornubia warehouse
UPL says it has spent more than R300 million to mitigate the impact of the chemical spill that resulted from the warehouse being set alight during the widespread looting of mid-July last year.
UNITED Phosphorus Limited (UPL) says there has been a fall in the concentration of pesticides detected around its Cornubia warehouse site as well as the Ohlanga River and uMhlanga Estuary.
The warehouse was set on fire during the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal in July last year which led to a chemical spill negatively impacting the environment and various beaches along the KwaZulu-Natal north coast.
“New information based on the results of monitoring efforts by the independent experts shows improvements in terms of possible issues that would be of concern at present versus when the incident happened.
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“These positive outcomes are notable for the beaches and seawater, the estuary, Ohlanga River, the warehouse platform and the pollution control dam. Another positive aspect to note is the rapid fall in the concentration of detected pesticides,” United Phosphorus Limited (UPL) spokesperson, Japhet Ncube.
Ncube said response teams have removed significant volumes of contaminated sediment and water in the Ohlanga tributary and its banks.
“The operation has also included reworking the tributary channel in some areas and the formation of sinuous channel sections to accelerate the natural breakdown of any remaining residual products. Further soil samples were taken on February 2 with the aim of assessing the best way forward in terms of revegetation.
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“Trials are being established to assess the best plants to use in the initial vegetation rehabilitation and the independent experts are aiming to set up a nursery on site, which will allow for the propagation of plants indigenous to the area,” Ncube said.
He added that UPL’s team of independent experts is continuing its monitoring of any potential human health impacts, as well as water and sediment sampling over the coming months.
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