THE eThekwini Municipality has addressed the murky black discharge found in uMngeni River which has been a cause for concern for more than a month.
In late December, conservationists raised the alarm over a discolouration which was flowing out of the Northern Waste Water Treatment Works outfall pipe.
This has led to high levels of E.coli found in the river posing a threat to those who use the river on a daily basis.
Related story: ‘uMngeni River situation critical for all’ says local paddlers
eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Lindiwe Khuzwayo said the City was aware of the issue and is using a disinfecting agent to treat the discharge.
“The dark water emanating from the ponds at the Northern Waste Water Treatment Works (NWWTW) is due to the excessive inflow of storm water into the Works that flooded the ponds and put the settled sludge into suspension, discolouring the water. This water has to flow into the river.
“We are currently dosing the discharging water with sodium hypochlorite and we are using alum to settle the solids in the ponds. We are also advertising an emergency contract to dredge the settled sludge from the ponds. This water will not affect beaches, however, residents are urged to stay clear of it for their safety,” she said.
Janet Simpkins, the founder and director of non-profit organisation (NPO), Adopt-a-River, said she remains concerned over the health of the river.
Related story: Concerns grow over health of Umgeni River
“While the extremely high E.coli readings have come down, it is still not within acceptable norms. We know this river is still polluted and unsafe for all to use. We regularly test the water quality at various points of the uMngeni River and the situation is still critical.
“Sadly, despite the City’s attempts to stop the discharge, we are still seeing it flowing into the river at the NWWTW outfall pipe. We feel the river needs more attention, especially from the authorities because so many communities and people use the river on a daily basis. It is clear to us through our water quality tests that everybody’s health is at risk,” she said.
* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader, As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za)
You can also sign up for news alerts on Telegram. Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5532.
For more from Northglen News follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow us on Instagram
