Possible oil spill kills dozens of fish in Wemmer Pan Dam
Water Management and Biodiversity department confirmed a spill was killing the fish and a company was found to be the cause.
HUNDREDS of fish have died due to an apparent oil spill at the Wemmer Pan Dam in the south of Johannesburg recently.
Dead fish were seen floating in the Wemmer Pan Dam on July 6.
Liz Venter, who has a business near the dam, said she was shocked to discover “truckloads of fish floating on the dam”.
The COURIER visited the dam on the day and found dozens of dead fish.
Another visit to assess the dam was scheduled for July 7, and although the number of fish found was smaller, the colour of the reportedly contaminated water was clearly visible.
Venter added that no one seemed to be doing anything about the situation.
“We have reported the matter to various departments in an effort to help stop the senseless killing of these fish.”
A representative from the city’s Water Management and Biodiversity department, Wiseman Ndlala, confirmed on Wednesday, July 19 the matter was being investigated.
Ndlala, a senior specialist in water quality and catchment management, said there seemed to be a spill, from what they could see onsite.
“A company was located as the possible perpetrator but further tests and a detailed report will provide clearer details.
“We are in contact with Environmental Health and are keeping them in the loop on ongoing investigations.
“The challenge is that there is no visible indication of a leak as the identified company’s drainage system (storm water drain) is underground, making findings probable and not definite. Further tests will indicate what the contamination was.
“We have been on the site a couple of times to assess the damage. We noticed that the pollution had lessened from our first day onsite – which was on July 6. The spillage had somehow cleared.
“We can confirm we have intervened and reacted to the crises,” said Ndlala.
Ward 57 councillor Faeeza Chame said there was no identified oil spill found.
In the statement she said: “In the past week we experienced lots of fish dying at the Wemmer Pan Lake and the masses of fish dying are a concern. However, fish could die of natural causes.
“Lake and pond fish can die due to a variety of reasons, which may include old age or natural injuries, starvation, suffocation, pollution, diseases or parasites, toxic algae and invasive plant species and severe weather.
“If your property, park or housing development has a lake or pond within it and you see dead fish floating like we saw at the Wemmer Pan Lake, should we be alarmed? Not necessarily as implied above, as the cause of death can be completely natural.
She said the health department with Environmental Management had conducted site inspections and no evidence could be found of pollution (by oil).
Chame also said there had been oil spills at the dam last year but the culprits could not be traced and that an inspection of the lake showed a great deal of dumping had been done, and the water was completely polluted with waste. She said pollution was, however, difficult to monitor.
She added that the Department of Water and Sanitation, as well as the Department of Environmental Affairs, would monitor the situation of the dying fish.
“Our residents and visitors to the lake should also be aware that it is an offence to do any kind of dumping.”
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