Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Sewage problem surfaces again

Inspecting the polluted site are Veldenvlei resident Christiaan van der Spuy, URRA Secretary Sandy Camminga, municipal official Kevin Groenewald and Ward Councillor Alen Viljoen

After repeated incidents of raw sewage seepage into the environment, calls are being made for the upgrading of the effluent system in Veldenvlei. It was originally designed to cater for the suburb, which has grown considerably, and in addition it must now cope with waste from Birdswood. Following an odour complaint from Veldenvlei resident Christiaan van der Spuy, whose property borders the wetland linking to Lake Mzingazi, a site visit revealed the extent of environmental damage - and health fears - caused by the untreated waste. In attendance were a municipal official Kevin Groenewald, Ward Councillor Alen Viljoen and uMhlathuze Ratepayers’ & Residents’ Association (URRA) Secretary, Sandy Camminga.
‘The visit confirmed that the sewage odour and spillage was as a result of overflows from the Municipal pump. ‘This is not the first such incident, and the ecological damage is prolific,’ said Camminga. ‘This area has become the breeding ground for a variety of birdlife including rare species. ‘During our visit is was noted that the water body below Mr Van der Spuy’s property has turned black, is devoid of fish - which used to be abundant - and there is now a hyacinth invasion, all as a result of the ongoing spillage. ‘Mr Van der Spuy also informed us that a number of ducks have died. ‘It is clear that the natural environment is being used as the ‘back-up plan’ for overflows, an unacceptable practice by any standards. ‘Cognisance needs to be taken of the fact that this water body flows from below the properties in Honeysuckle, under East Central Arterial and towards Lake Mzingazi, our source of drinking water.’ As a matter of urgency, the URRA is requesting the municipality to upgrade the existing pump or install an additional pump.
It also wants to see a holding pond constructed to capture any sewage overflows.