AfriForum Springs says Springs Blesbokspruit has high levels of E. coli
“We cannot allow unfit municipal officers to pollute our water resources. We plan on taking action,” says Cornel Swart, chairperson of AfriForum Springs.
AfriForum had the sewage outlet in the Blesbokspruit in Springs tested on October 19 to ascertain the quality of the town’s sewage.
Afriforum’s Springs conducted SANAS-accredited water tests after various community members continuously complained about the unbearable stench coming from the Blesbokspruit.
“We established that the sewage did not adhere to minimum requirements.
“Water tested positive for faecal coliforms, E. coli, nitrates and phosphates, of which the concentration was not within set standards,” says Marie Naudé, AfriForum’s district coordinator for the East Rand.
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AfriForum tested the Blesbokspruit at four different sites and found the Welgedacht site was the worst affected.
This is worrying for the organisation as the Blesbokspruit supports the biggest wetland in the Highveld area and is a feeder into the Vaal Dam.
AfriForum sent a letter addressed to the city manager of Ekurhuleni in Springs on October 29 to demand the problem be addressed within 48 hours.
“We will have to give much more attention to sewage plants.
“We cannot allow unfit municipal officers to pollute our water resources.
“We plan on taking action,” says Cornel Swart, chairperson of AfriForum Springs.
“We request the residents of Springs to give AfriForum the mandate to continuously monitor water quality.
“SMS Springs to 45342 to support this action, each SMS costs R1,” says Swart.
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The closing date for the petition is November 15.
AfriForum’s national Blue and Green Drop Project focuses on the quality of the drinking water and sewage plants.
The project does not necessarily focus on the condition of the sewage plant itself, but rather on the quality of water released after the process as end result in the form of drinking water (Blue Drop) and treated sewage (Green Drop).
