More hazards near Percy Stewart plant

Residents living near the Delporton dump truck site are at risk of serious health issues as there are no proper controls in place, where this implies that the plant’s processing of the dumped waste is inadequate.

The Gauteng spokesperson for Environmental Affairs and Member of the Provincial Legislature, Leanne de Jager, said during a recent oversight inspection at the dump site, they discovered that there is a lack of monitoring and uncontrolled dumping taking place.

“There is no security in place and no register to ensure that proper measures are followed. Furthermore, random samples of the effluent that is being dumped must be taken, kept cool and tested. However, this is not taking place at all,” De Jager expressed.

She further continued the waste, which is dumped into the hole, then flows down the mountainside and into the valley opposite Munsieville.

“Due to the uncontrolled dumping, the effluent flows into the Blougat Nature Reserve. Animals forage in this area and subsequently eat plants and drink contaminated water. Furthermore, there are also zama zamas [illegal miners] living in the area,” she worryingly said.

“The situation is dire at this site. The fish in the river at the nature reserve are dead because of the untreated water and sinkholes have formed. Businesses in the area, some of which are dependent directly on the river for their operations, can no longer operate, and residents have lost out on using these facilities for leisure opportunities.”

She said they will be asking questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to the member of the Executive Council for Environmental Affairs, Shyla Peters, to determine exactly what will be done about the situation, how much money has been allocated for the repair of the Percy Stewart Waste Water Treatment Works (PSWWTW) plant, and by when it will be operational again.

“It is unacceptable that residents are forced to live in an environment that is not kept clean, putting them at risk of getting sick because of the untreated water in the area,” De Jager added.

Mogale City Local Municipality’s (MCLM) communications officer Adrian Amod responded to this by saying as a result of the capacity of the limited operation at the PSWWTW, the decision to move the discharging of vacuum tankers from the treatment works to its current position was a temporary measurement.

“Considering the position of the treatment works and outfall sewers with nearby residential areas, this was the only available site.

“At first spillages from the tankers were experienced, and the discharge point was upgraded to its current condition. The concrete palisade fence was repaired, steel gates installed, and a concrete slab cast around the manhole. Manholes outside the fenced area were isolated to prevent illegal dumping and spillages at those points. Permits are issued for discharging, and security is also on-site regularly.

“Unfortunately, the discharge point is remote and not visible from the road. Illegal discharging, vandalism and theft are experienced regularly as well. With the existing infrastructure, permanent monitoring of trucks and sampling is virtually impossible. The department is in the process of securing sufficient funding for the further upgrading of the site. This will allow for access control, permanent safeguarding, and sufficient monitoring and sampling,” Amod explained.

“An overflowing sewer manhole below the discharge point was reported on November 12, and the municipality is attending to this. It can be confirmed that no spillages from the discharge point are experienced and flowing to or affecting the Blougatspruit,” he concluded.