TZANEEN – Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) has clarified the operational status of its wastewater treatment works, following concerns about the condition of the facility and the quality of effluent being discharged into the Letaba River, according to earlier reports.

Pump station breakdown and flooding

GTM said the treatment works experienced a mechanical breakdown at its pump station, which was then flooded on June 14 while the plant was undergoing a scheduled four-week maintenance programme.

GTM spokesperson Vutivi Makhubele said the breakdown had a significant impact on the pump station’s operation and disrupted several critical treatment processes at the plant.

“The mechanical breakdown and subsequent flooding affected the operation of the pump station and disrupted various treatment processes, resulting in the accumulation of sludge within the primary settling tanks,” said Makhubele.

GTM denies raw sewage discharge

The municipality acknowledged that the disruption affected the quality of the final effluent discharged from the facility, with the effluent temporarily non-compliant with applicable quality requirements.

However, Makhubele said it would be technically inaccurate to describe the situation as the treatment works discharging raw sewage directly into the river.

“The discharge comprised treated wastewater that did not meet the required effluent quality standards due to the disruption of the treatment processes. It was therefore not raw sewage being discharged directly into the river,” she said.

Skip bin claims rejected

GTM also rejected claims that skip bins had been used to dispose of waste from the treatment works.

Makhubele explained that the material removed from the facility consisted of accumulated sludge from the primary settling tanks.

“The sludge was removed from the process units and transferred to the designated sludge drying beds in accordance with the plant’s established operational and sludge management procedures,” she said.

Municipality still working to restore compliance

The municipality said its maintenance team is currently addressing identified mechanical, electrical and operational defects at the treatment works.

While the facility is operational and continues to treat wastewater, GTM acknowledged that it has not yet achieved full compliance with the required effluent quality standards.

Makhubele said the municipality remained committed to restoring the plant to the required standard.

“GTM remains committed to retaining the Green Drop standards and maintaining the treatment works as one of the best-performing facilities in Limpopo Province,” she said.