By ZIMKITA LINYANA
Water quality tests have revealed dangerous E.coli counts in local rivers.
During recent oversight visits, the Democratic Alliance (DA) took water samples at seven sites along the Kowie, Blaaukrantz, and Matyana rivers and sent them for testing by a scientist at Rhodes University.
E.coli counts of 280, 1000, 1800, and 30 000 colony-forming units (CFU) were detected in samples taken from five of the seven sites, according to DA Ward 9 councillor Cary Clark.
“E.coli levels should be close to zero – anything above 100 colony-forming units (CFU) per 100 ml is dangerous to humans and animals alike,” Clark said.
Clark said the DA would write to the Green Scorpions to request immediate intervention.
“This is an environmental and economic catastrophe waiting to happen. The discharge of sewage into rivers could result in the water becoming so contaminated that it will no longer be fit for use as an irrigation source for farmers,” Clark said.
“The people of Makana are facing a dire health crisis due to the municipality’s inability to deal with raw sewage flowing into local rivers and streams.”
Discharging raw sewage into a natural water resource is also illegal in terms of the Constitution, the National Environmental Management Act No. 107 of 1998, and the National Water Act No. 36 of 1998.
Clark said sewage spillages into our rivers directly result from the Belmont Valley Water Treatment Works’ inability to cope with the sheer volume of sewage flowing through it.
Makana Municipality scored an appalling 9% in the 2022 Green Drop report benchmark test – down from 62% in 2013 when the last report was released.
The Green Drop report is an incentive-based regulation spearheaded by the Department of Water and Sanitation that monitors wastewater networks and treatment systems.
A wastewater system that achieves over 90% is regarded as excellent, while a score under 31% is considered a dysfunctional system requiring appropriate interventions.
Belmont Valley requires a considerable refurbishment, and although there are plans for some work, it falls far short of what is needed to make Belmont Valley compliant, Clark said.
“This uncaring and irresponsible municipality must be brought to book for endangering the livelihood and health of its residents,” Clark added.
In May, Rhodes University Institute for Water Research PhD researcher Mary Chibwe told Grocott’s Mail that poor wastewater treatment in Makana was a public health risk.
“The poorly-treated wastewater is disposed of into the river, affecting animal and human health. Wastewater is discharged into the Blaaukrans River, a source of water for animals (cattle, goats) and irrigation for farms along the river banks,” Chibwe said.
This river, which flows through Belmont Valley – where the municipal Belmont Valley treatment works in Makhanda is at a standstill – joins the Kowie river, which makes its way to Port Alfred with its millionaires’ marina at the mouth.
“The water is used to irrigate crops sold to the public for consumption. If poorly treated wastewater is discharged into the Blaaukrans, the pathogens in sewage end up in river water and consequently on irrigated crops.
“Animals which drink this polluted water may transfer these diseases to humans when humans consume meat and milk or get exposed to animals’ faecal matter (animal faecal matter is common on the streets of Makhanda).
“Bacteria such as Campylobacteria and Vibrio Cholera can be transmitted from polluted water to humans,” Chibwe said.
As far back as 2019, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) admitted that the Belmont Valley Waste Water Treatment Works was not meeting the set discharge standards and needed to be upgraded and refurbished.
“The works are currently running at 150% of their capacity. The upgrade will unlock development in the area as currently all housing projects have been put on hold as the plant is overloaded and overflowing, thus polluting water resources in the area and downstream,” the DWS said at the time.
Eastern Cape Development Corporation funding was promised for this intervention.
The Makana Municipality has been contacted for comment.
