Recent water quality tests conducted by community members have raised significant concerns about the safety of water in local parks, including King and Wilson Park and the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens. The tests, part of WaterCAN’s annual ‘Water Testing Week’ held from September 16 to 20, revealed alarming levels of contamination, particularly concerning faecal coliforms and E coli.
Read more: Community cleans Wilson and King Park
Morne Viljoen, a legal advisor specialising in environmental law, conducted tests at King and Wilson Park after noticing the community’s lack of water quality monitoring.
His results indicated that while nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, and total hardness levels were deemed safe, the total chlorine levels exceeded acceptable limits, and most concerningly, faecal coliforms and E coli were present, suggesting high levels of sewage contamination in the water.
In a similar vein, Jennifer Malec reported troubling results from her testing at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, near the Judith Rd and Beyers Naudé Dr intersection. Her tests revealed the presence of faecal coliforms, with the water turning black in the aquascreen test.
“The Petrifilm tests showed approximately 30 blue spots of E coli and numerous red spots of coliform bacteria, indicating unsafe levels for both humans and pets.”
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They have speculated that the contamination may stem from various sources, including displaced individuals using the park as a restroom and aging sewerage infrastructure that may be leaking. Viljoen highlighted the need for the proper maintenance of sewage systems to prevent such incidents in the future.
Both Viljoen and Malec have urged the community to avoid contact with the water, warning that pets and children should not swim or drink from affected areas. Malec noted that a sewage leak, originating from Padda Dam, had occurred for over two weeks prior to her testing, raising further concerns about ongoing contamination.
Environmental expert Dr Ferrial Adam, from WaterCAN, emphasised the importance of these tests in identifying pollution sources. She stated that Johannesburg Water must locate and repair the sewage leak to ensure public safety.
Furthermore, she underscored the significance of water testing week in raising awareness about water quality issues and empowering citizens to engage in monitoring efforts. Despite previous suggestions for warning signs to be placed in parks, no action has been taken by park management yet.
Malec has communicated her findings to park manager Sandra Viljoen, who has committed to relaying the information to the relevant authorities for further investigation.
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