Free veggies could be dangerous

GLENVISTA – Too much of a good thing has always proved to be too good to be true, and a Glenvista resident says the evidence he has gathered should be enough to deter people from consuming watercress found in Glen Eagles.

For centuries the semi-aquatic leafy vegetable that grows in the spruit flowing near Vorster Avenue from the hill past the Glen Shopping Centre, under the N12 highway past Builders Warehouse in Glenanda and into the dam at the Glenvista golf course, has been consumed by people in Asia and Europe for its health benefits, including folic acid, iron, calcium and iodine, vitamins A and C.

However, when Johan noticed a group of Chinese individuals picking the watercress growing along the spruit, his concern about the purity of the water prompted him to get a sample and have it analysed.

“For some time I have been concerned about the purity of the water, but after observing some Chinese folks picking watercress from the river, I decided to take a sample of the water to be analysed,” explained Johan.

He reports that his investigation at a laboratory revealed these findings: “The water had a pinkish-reddish tinge with a chemical smell to it. The COD (chemical oxygen demand) was 997 mg per litre. The legal limit is no more than 50 mg/L and this is over 20 times more.

“The ammonia level was 0.0 mg/L. and that was fine. The phosphate level was 0.11 mg/L. That was fine too. The nitrate level was within the limit at 2.3 mg/L. The conductivity was fine at 61. But, whereas the PH level should be 7, it was 3.2. This is very acidic, almost like battery acid. At least with the low ammonia, phosphate and nitrate levels, one can conclude there is no raw sewage in the river.”

Adding that he was certain there was some kind of chemical waste being dumped into the river, and said that he wished to warn all residents who may have thought of consuming the watercress to rather have it tested before preparing it for their families.