On February 24, Ruan Lottering the AfriForum community co-ordinator for Mpumalanga along with a local AfriForum member Leon Viviers took a drive to the Riverview Sewerage
Plant in Blanchville with a cooler box of empty water bottles marked with labels to collect samples of the sewerage water as it is being processed.
The quality of the treated water, as it is called, is marked with a Green Drop status. The quality of the water being reintroduced into the Olifants River could possibly have a big impact on the pollution that is a problem in the Olifants River.
The first sample was taken at the very beginning of the process as the raw sewerage water enters the plant. The stench of the grey foaming water is almost unbearable.
The sample was taken and everyone quickly fled across the open field to the lower processing pools where the sight and smells are easier on the senses.
Another sample was taken from water in the middle the treatment process, specifically where the water gets oxygenated. According to Lottering the lack of oxygen in the water has been the cause of environmental damage on rivers in the past.
The final sample was taken at the end of the process before the water gets re-introduced back into the Olifants River. The air surrounding the pools does not smell and the water is visibly clearer.
Lottering was completely confident collecting the sample without any gloves although they washed their hand thoroughly afterwards. The tests aim to prove that appearances can be deceiving.
“We will test the water and adhere strictly to the requirements for the tests, because we suspect that water in Witbank does not comply with national standards,” said Lottering, after receiving a large number of complaints from the community.
Three samples of tap water or potable water were also taken. One from a school in Blanchville, one from a residence in Ben Fleur, and a third sample was taken from a school in Reyno Ridge. The water from Blanchville had a visible yellow tint to it, and the water from the residence and Reyno Ridge school was milky white.
The quality of this water is represented as Blue Drop water. eMalahleni does not have blue drop status.
In order to ensure reliable results, water samples will be tested by South African National Accreditation System’s (SANAS) independent accredited laboratories.
The project focuses on the quality of potable water and treated sewage to ensure compliance with national standards according the AfriForum statement. After testing the water in several other municipal areas nationally where complaints about water quality has come to light, they have not found one municipality is up to standard. The organisation hopes to pinpoint problem areas across the country with this project.
They are determined to see these issues being resolved.
“There are already concerns and actions taken because of sewage spillage into the Olifants River, and these tests will assist in building a strong case against the culprits,” said Lottering as they plan on taking their cause to court if it comes to that. The report will be made public on March 17.
