Outcry over Amanzimtoti bird park sewage outfall
A collapsed pipe was the cause of the initial outfall, but excavations were filled with what appeared to be a mix of sewage and chemicals.
Local birders were dismayed to find one of their favourite sanctuaries flooded with sewage, with reports of some dead fish and a dead gosling in the Amanzimtoti Bird Sanctuary at the weekend.
Maxine Carter was horrified that there was no sign of an Egyptian goose and her 11 goslings that birders were keeping a keen eye on. Only seven young chicks were around when the sewage outfall began on Wednesday, 27 November, and the dead baby was a telling sign that all of them probably suffered the same fate.
“The sanctuary is home to some of the most rare birds, such as the spotted ground thrush, that visit over Winter, malachite kingfisher and all kinds of weavers. It is heart-breaking to see it in such a state now.”
She is a member of the newly formed Sapphire Coast Birding, which is a satellite club of Birdlife Port Natal, and Birdlife SA. “The club has started to attract so many new people to the area, it’s so frustrating that this had to happen.”
READ ALSO: Birding club opens in Amanzimtoti
The initial outfall originated in the adjacent Southgate Industrial Park, when it was reported that a municipal contractor pumped sewage from a manhole straight into a stormwater drain, which flows into the waterways and into the bird park. The SUN sent a query to the municipality, but no response was forthcoming, a poor showing from the authorities who had no qualms about issuing a severe financial fine to a Southgate businessman who was found to be contaminating the waterways a number of years ago.
Ward 97 councillor, André Beetge, who investigated the outfall discovered there was more to the story.
He said the sanctuary had its origins years ago because it is the lowest point for natural water accumulation. Over the years, development occurred with additional stormwater from the industrial park being directed to the Umdoni catchment basin.
A second line, which has its origin within the inland wetlands area of Ziko section and KwaMakhutha, first drain into a pool higher up in Kissin Lane, before running into the sanctuary’s catchment pool that drains into a channel parallel to Bernadotte Road with eventual outflow into the Amanzimtoti River estuary.
“On Wednesday afternoon we were alerted to an eThekwini contractor pumping raw sewage from an overflowing or blocked manhole in Southgate directly into the stormwater line, which flowed into the sanctuary’s catchment. Despite sharing information with wastewater officials, the damage had been done and in the absence of rain, by Friday afternoon the stench was unbearable highlighted by the excessive heat and humidity.
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“Following further complaints and with our requests for clarity from local management on Saturday and Sunday remaining unanswered, we conducted a Monday morning site inspection, the result of which included communication with local officials, senior management, heads of department and the department of environmental affairs.” After arranging for the water to be aerated and a jetting machine to be contracted, the investigation led to the cause of the outfall in Southgate.
“While a collapsed pipe that was the cause of the initial outfall had been replaced, excavations remained filled with what appeared to be a mix of sewage and unknown, yet foul-smelling chemicals. In discussion with officials, concern was expressed at what appeared compromised municipal infrastructure and the possibility that piping, still within the beginning stages of its expected life cycle, were already collapsing, possibly due to the presence of unknown chemicals within the system. This caused outfall from the wastewater line into the stormwater line, both of which are gravity fed and run parallel to each other.”
While officials continued clearing more blockages found lower down the line on Monday and Tuesday using the jetting machine, the department of environmental affairs arrived for an inspection of both the bird park and outfall points. “We have also requested sampling intervention from the municipality’s pollution control department to identify the chemicals and their origin, which appear to be causing the premature failure in infrastructure,” said Beetge.
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