Metro investigates spillage of industrial chemical after lake water turns rust red
Continuous contamination, lack of maintenance and security have over the years eroded the benefit provided by the multi-million rand multiphase projects to restore the facility to its former glory.
Authorities are investigating why the Boksburg Lake last week turned rust in colour.
It is believed a chemical leak from nearby factories upstream caused the colour change.
The metro spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini, has today confirmed that a team of specialists from the city’s Water Quality and Environment has been dispatched to investigate the matter. “The matter is still under investigation and results will be made public once we are done,” said Dlamini.
A well-placed source, who spoke to the Advertiser anonymously, confirmed that water samples were taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis.
“The aim is to determine what substance and what company is responsible for the discolouration and pollution of the water,” said the source.
The Advertiser ascertained that the substance responsible for the pollution reached the lake through the concrete stormwater channel which runs through the industrial sites upstream, including Cason and Andebolt.
We also found that the discoloured water came from underground drainage pipes and then flowed into the channel next to the bridge on Campbell Road (Cason), before flowing down the channel to the lake inlet.
One resident who lives near the channel in Cason, Vaughan Mohammed, said they experienced the nauseating smell of rotting eggs over the weekend of May 16/17 but had no idea where it emanated from.
“We then discovered that the lake’s water had changed colour and that the smell was coming from the lake. We all suspect the culprit is the nearby factories, and it’s not the first time that chemicals have been disposed of like this.
“This continuing pollution is not good for our health and the environment. Officials must do their jobs and deal with the perpetrators.”
Security guards at Boksburg Lake said they started to notice the colour change on Thursday afternoon (May 15).
When the Advertiser revisited the area late last week we noted the rust colour of the water was gradually fading.
Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos, who initially alerted the Advertiser to the environmental crisis, said he was also shocked to find that the water is rust-coloured.
The change in colour, he said appeared to be caused by contaminants. He also suspected the culprit was one of the factories in the nearby industrial sites upstream.
De Vos called on the metro to look into this as a matter of urgency.
This incident is the latest in a series of similar previous episodes. The Advertiser has previously reported that the lake was found to be contaminated with what appeared to be a layer of oil that had made its way into the water, creating an ecological disaster.
We await a response from the City of Ekurhuleni.
