Quick action counters cyanide poisoning
A slurry spill at the Barbrook Mine near Louisville posed a potential lethal threat to the environment and communities along the Kaap and Crocodile rivers.
LOUISVILLE – Swift action by a DA councillor, government agencies and a mine prevented a large scale cyanide poisoning along the Crocodile River.
The casualties of a slurry spill on September 15 include six goats, but could have been worse, according to Dr Thomas Abobia of the Nkomati Catchment Management Agency (ICMA).
The speedy implementation of protocol at the Barbrook Mine ensured that a potential calamity was averted, according to an official from the provincial disaster-management team.
Mr Mike Begg, general mine manager, reported a burst pipe to the Nkomazi Local Municipality, the slurry had spilled into a catchment dam, which in turn fed into the Manzi and Kaap rivers, both tributaries of the Crocodile.
Upon notification of the incident the municipality shut down two drinking water-package plants and the community had to be supplied with drinking water from tankers.
ICMA director, Dr Ababio, confirmed that it had been informed of the situation by the local DA councillor, Me Marianne Preddy. The agency conducted an investigation on September 16. Three water samples were collected both up- and downstream of the spill as well as at the confluence with the Kaap River. Tests revealed levels of potentially harmful chemicals including arsenic, cyanide, iron, sulphate, and manganese.
A verbal instruction was given to the mine to conduct a clean up process. Ababio stated that a notice of intention to issue a directive in terms of Section 19 (3) of the National Water Act will be supplied to the mine. ICMA is currently pursuing its records to determine the frequency of these spills and the response of the mine in the past.
In June 2012 a pipe had also burst at the mine, contaminating the household water of residents of Louisville.
This led to large-scale protests after thousands of dead fish could be seen in the rivers.
With regard to the recent spill, Ababio explained, “It has since been cleared, but pollution like this can cause a lot of damage if it is not attended to immediately.” He added that the harmful chemicals could be carried downstream for several kilometres.
Preddy says this is but one of 27 incidents of harmful contamination in the region. The other pertain to sewerage in the Nkomazi district.
