Focus on Vaal Sewage Crises – Part 4

Highest ever E.Coli counts at Rietspruit

24 April 2019 Vaalweekblad Page 31

VANDERBIJLPARK. – The highest E.Coli counts ever, 2,5 million counts per 100 millilitre of water, were recorded at the Rietspruit near the weir two weeks ago.

 This indicates that the spillage of sewage is a bigger problem for residents in the Vaal Triangle than ever, whereas 400 E.Coli counts per 100 millilitre are considered dangerous to human life. E.Coli is an indicator of sewage pollution. The E.Coli value in terms of water resource quality for drinking water is 0 counts per 100 millilitre. According to Maureen Stewart, Vice Chairperson of Save the Vaal Environment (Save), the Department of Water and Sanitation, Gauteng Province and Emfuleni Local Council appear to have no sense of urgency regarding action to deal with the pollution.
She said that with the exception of the deployment of the SANDF (who were not given sufficient funds to do their work) little has happened. The Sanitation team of Emfuleni is under-resourced in terms of vehicles and other resources. The pump stations require ongoing maintenance and repair, while blockages and pipe bursts in the networks continue.

 “We await the outcome of the Water and Sanitation Minister’s commitment that there will be no sewage pollution by March 2020,” she said.Mr Michael Gaade (72), also a member of Save, who lives on the banks of the Vaal River for many years, said the Rietspruit has been severely contaminated by raw sewage spillage for many years. He said that he doesn’t know if anyone will ever be able to restore the Rietspruit. “When my kids were still small, they played in the river. Now, no one can go in the water, because it is too dangerous and there are no frogs, fish or birds left. “The Rietspruit and Sebokeng wastewater treatment works dump raw sewage into the river. There’s sabotage, cable theft, all the non-connected government housing and informal settlements all the way to Orange Farm that goes into the Rietspruit. Save has battled the pollution of the
river from sewage since 2003. Gaade and several Save members were part of a three-day inquiry held by the SA Human Rights Commission to see whether the state of the Vaalriver violates or threatens human rights, including environmental rights, in terms of Section 24 of the Constitution from raw and poorly treated sewage blighting the region. “No river should be in this state, especially not the Vaal,” Mr
Gaade concluded.

A photo of the Rietspruit near the weir, taken two weeks ago when the highest ever E.Coli counts were recorded,
i.e. 2,5 million counts per 100 ml. 400 E.Coli counts per 100 ml are considered dangerous to human health.
Photo: Save te Vaal Environment (Save).