Rhodes Park Lake water acceptable
Water quality in the Rhodes Park Lake has improved to an acceptable standard.
The EXPRESS published an article a few months ago highlighting resident’s concerns about the water quality.
People were concerned about the health threat posed to people, especially children who were playing in the water, and people who were eating fish from the lake.
Mr Paul Fairall, the chairperson of the Jukskei River Catchment Area Management Forum, said he was concerned because of the possibility of the lake carrying waterborne diseases due to pollution.
He said the fish and water could poison people.
Members of the community also raised concern about the litter in the lake.
At the time, Mr Nthatisi Modingoane from the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), confirmed e-coli was found in the water.
He said there were problems in February and December 2012. He also said spillages of sewage from sewer networks could have led to the presence of e-coli.
When asked if the city foresees similar problems in December, Mr Modingoane said, “These were sporadic incidents. The city cannot speculate if this will happen again or not. Johannesburg Water conducts routine maintenance on the infrastructure to address the spillages. The microbiological water quality of the lake is of acceptable standard. The inlets and the outlets are monitored on a monthly basis,” he said.
Samples are analysed according to standard water quality parameters at the Cydna Lab.
Mr Modingoane said the last test was undertaken in October. “The water has improved to acceptable, in terms of the Jukskei In-stream Water Quality Objectives,” said Mr Modingoane.
He said the fish in the water do not pose any health risks.
