SpruitSpritz warns residents and worshippers of E. coli levels in Paulshof rivers
For some people, the river running through Paulshof is more than a waterway – it is a place where traditional and cultural rituals are performed.
SpruitSpritz organiser Chantal Nativel has warned residents and worshippers about the condition of the Braamfontein Spruit and Sandspruit in Paulshof following years of community water-quality monitoring.
During the organisation’s latest clean-up on September 26, Nativel collected a river-water sample from the confluence of the two spruits using a WaterCAN citizen-science testing kit.
She said the visibly grey water was concerning and that regular testing had repeatedly indicated the presence of E. coli in the waterways.
Read more: Councillor calls for order along Braamfontein Spruit
“We’ve been testing for the last six years, the last two or three every single month, and in both the Braamfontein Spruit and in the Sandspruit they are full of E. coli. It has never been any different,” Nativel said.
The concern is particularly significant because some worshippers use the waterways for traditional and cultural practices, including bathing and other rituals.
“If you’re bathing directly in this, I’m very scared for people’s health,” she said.
Nativel said sewage spills along the waterways were an ongoing concern and claimed that sewage also entered the rivers from informal settlements situated alongside them.
She said pollution was also affecting the river ecosystem, with major sewage spills having an impact on aquatic life.
Ward 93 Councillor Vino Reddy confirmed that the area had recently experienced a sewer burst that discharged into the Braamfontein Spruit.
Nativel said protecting the river was not only about preserving wildlife but also about recognising the connection between people and the natural environment.
Also read: Paulshof residents fight to keep Braamfontein Spruit clean
The WaterCAN kit used by Nativel is a citizen-science tool that allows communities to monitor indicators of water quality, including pH, nitrates, phosphates and E. coli.
For the SpruitSpritz volunteers, regular testing and clean-ups form part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness of the condition of Paulshof’s waterways and encourage the community to protect them.
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