The foul smells that were detected where the Sand River crosses the Matlala road on the outskirts of the city last week, originate from the Seshego Sewage Treatment Works that is currently being renovated and extended.
Communications and Marketing Manager of Polokwane Municipality, Matshidiso Mothapo, said on Tuesday that the works is still under renovation and that extensions of the plant’s capacity costing R56 million will be completed by January 2019. Mothapo explained that the work takes place within an operational plant and spillage has to be accepted. According to Mothapo, the renovations and extensions to the plant could not be delayed any longer. “The design capacity of the existing plant is 27,8 mega litre per day and it could not cope with the daily inflow of 34 mega litre and it was therefore necessary to increase the capacity to
56 mega litres per day. The dividing concrete walls in the plant is also collapsing and the municipality is spending R7 million for a new chlorination house,” Mothapo added.
Mothapo apologised for any inconvenience caused and assured that the foul smell does not hold a health risk and that all possible measures are implemented to avoid spillages during the building process.
Story & photo: BARRY VILJOEN
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