Umbilo river runs white
According to a local businesswoman, the portion of the Umbilo river which runs through Pinetown, is continuously used as a dumping ground for chemicals.
THE Umbilo river, which flows through the industrial part of Pinetown, was contaminated by an unknown substance last Wednesday.
Bianca Kaidatzis, a concerned businesswoman, believes that companies are using the river as a means to dispose of its waste quickly and easily.
“This is not an irregular occurrence as the river goes a murky colour, covered with bubbles every Friday,” said Kaidatzis.
She noted that when she arrived at work last week Wednesday the water had turned a light green colour and on Thursday is had turned white.
“During the last one and a half years there has been some form of pollution or another. It is absolutely disgusting and shocking. We used to have an abundance of bird life in the area and now not even the Egyptian geese will come near the river,” said Kaidatzis.
The river had turned white and she described the odour as something that could be oil based but as pungent as Jeyes Fluid.
“We contact the water pollution department every time we see pollution in the hopes that the culprit can be found and punished. Unfortunately they hardly ever come through,” concluded Kaidatzis.
The relevant department was contacted by the Highway Mail and a team was dispatched immediately to take samples of the water. Officials sent to the scene were unable to provide comment regarding the pollution.
