Oil removed from Swartspruit but sewage stays

AFTER three weeks, the clean-up operation of the Swartspruit on the corner of Kelvin Street and CR Swart Drive has been successfully completed by Drizit.

That is according to GUD Filters’ PR co-ordinator, Charlenie Govender.

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The cause of the major oil spill in the Swartspruit was a fire in Isando at GUD Filter’s distribution centre on the corner of Diesel and Industry roads, just after midnight on Friday September 9.

“It took three weeks to clear the oil from the waterways. We’ve put in place three sets of weirs to be used to entrap any additional pollution resulting from the oil spillage,” said Govender.

Govender said pollution skimming devices and specially designed over/under weirs were constructed to trap polluted substances – oil or otherwise – during the cleaning process.

She said it was not clear how much oil had been removed from the operation.

“We do not have an exact estimate of how much oil was removed because of the extent of the existing pollution in the river, including sewage and other forms of pollution.”

Also read:

• Edleen residents can breathe again after foul smell

The company will continue to monitor the oil collection weirs and booms in the Swartspruit for additional oil over the weeks ahead and for any further developments.