Residents unhappy with the state of Alexander Dam
The hyacinths rot and sink to the bottom of the dam, further polluting the water.
Water hyacinths have been plaguing Alexander Dam since 2013 and very little has been done since then to address the issue.
Hyacinths are an invasive species and threaten plant and animal life.
They have covered a large part of the dam, cutting essential oxygen and sunlight supply from plant life and fish.
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The hyacinths rot and sink to the bottom of the dam, further polluting the water.
The metro sprayed insecticide on the plants, but this was just a temporary solution. According to ward councillor Ramesh Sheodin, the metro spent R7-million to hire contractors to remove the offending plants.
“Residents of Dersley Park and Presidents Dam are complaining about how filthy the rotting hyacinths make the lake look, as well as the stench that emanates from it.
“The lake is in a sorry state and residents are also upset about seeing tankers at the lake allegedly depositing waste into the dam,” say Sheodin.
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Hyacinth problem on Presidents Dam
The metro failed to respond to our enquiry at time of publication.
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