Sewage again streaming from bridge

Large quantities of sewage still gush from a leaking pipeline on a bridge into the Wonderfonteinspruit.

The Herald reported in July last year that the pipeline linking the sewerage network of the whole of Khutsong to the Khutsong sewerage works is leaking in several places. The Khutsong wastewater (sewage) treatment works (WWTW) is on the opposite side of the river on the way to Welverdiend.

“The municipality came to fix the pipe towards the end of last year, but it has been leaking again since around December. They know about it because they checked it in February,” concerned residents told the Herald this week.

So much sewage is gushing from the broken pipeline on the bridge that you cannot get too close without getting sprayed. There is so much sewage that it makes streams as it reaches the ground and then flows directly toward the Wonderfonteinspuit. It is the worst leakage in years.
The water of this river is not fit for human consumption because of mining pollution over the decades, and the sewage pollution of the past years makes it even worse. Although it is not potable, livestock drink from it, and the river later joins the Mooi River, supplying Potchefstroom’s drinking water.

According to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Green Drop Progress report for 2023, the Merafong City Local Municipality faces many issues dealing with sewage. Khutsong, Kokosi, Wedela and Welverdiend WWTWs were under regulatory supervision after the 2023 Green Drop audit, as they were all in the high/critical-risk category.

The report commended the WSA for submitting a GDIP and Corrective Action Plan (CAP) for all these systems. However, as per the Green Drop Watch report, the quality of the CAP reports was poor, and the WSA has not yet implemented the plan. It must ensure that it does so to improve wastewater management and protect the environment and downstream users.

Although the Herald sent questions about the matter to the municipality on Monday, we received no feedback.