Ratepayers can expect to pay more for bulk services when municipalities are themselves required to pay towards the purification of water, a long and expensive process.
The grim prediction comes from the Democratic Alliance, DA. The party also predicts higher food prices and even limited access to water. The most polluted dam in South Africa is the Hartebeespoort, with the Vaal Dam coming in a close second, particularly in what is informally called `Ratepayers Bay’ by residents of Deneysville. This yachting resort town has been menaced by the pipelined discharge of poorly treated sewage for years.
‘Toxic’ is the word used to describe Hartebeesport in the South African Journal of Science. Its report cited satellite technology used over 10 years by researchers Dr Mark Matthews of the University of Cape Town and Dr Stewart Bernard of the Scientific and Industrial Research Board, SIRB. They concluded that two-thirds of SA’s dams contain poisonous green algae and that 62% of 50 dams, rivers and lakes are rife with it.
This is caused by poor filtration that promotes the spread of blue-green algae – only it isn’t algae. This is toxic to any aquatic ecosystem, not to mention to animals and humans. The quality of water has become so hazardous that it cannot even be used for irrigation. When concentrations of bacteria are high enough, they float upward and form a green mat of scum that is poisonous enough to kill livestock.
Poorly purified tap water can make people sick. Unintentional ingestion by skiers and participants in other watersports can expect headaches, nausea and diarrhoea. Water the colour of pea soup, or scum on a dam, should be avoided. Water well below acceptable quality standards has for years been pumped by most Gauteng treatment works.
This flows directly into dams all over Gauteng and the broader SA.
