Waste water plant blamed for pollution

The ongoing water pollution in the area’s rivers and dams has been deemed a local ecological disaster with the potential to become a regional disaster if steps to manage the problem are not taken soon.

Claims by residents and farmers in the area suggest that the “dysfunctional” Barberton Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) is the main cause of pollution to the dams and rivers in the area.

Hundreds of thousands of dead and dying fish, two dead crocodiles and a few dead birds were found on private farm dams near the plant last October.

Experts have suggested that a build-up of salts and metal pollutants are also affecting the local rivers and dams, with information indicating that contaminants are reportedly already reaching the Crocodile River.

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The University of Mpumalanga’s Dr Gordon O’Brien said the process at the Barberton WWTW needs to be improved urgently.

He said only once this was done, could the sewage-polluted dams be rehabilitated.

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“This is all urgent, as the retention capacity of the dams is decreasing and while recent data suggests the impact associated with the WWTW has not significantly affected the Suidkaap and Kaap River ecosystems.

“If the dam’s retention capacity is exceeded, the impact of the WWTW on these rivers would increase exponentially and have serious effects on the regional environment, potentially including the Crocodile River and the Kruger National Park.

“Importantly, we have also observed extremely low oxygen levels and eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) in streams downstream of the dysfunctional waste water treatment works in Barberton,” said O’Brien.

He said this included oxygen levels in natural streams that would not allow most (>90%) aquatic animals that occur in these streams to survive. He added that the lakes on private land downstream of the WWTW are actually contributing to the treatment of the sewage, but are suffering as a result.

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Kaap River Valley Major Irrigation Board’s senior water control officer, Maré le Roux said informal settlements downstream of the plant that do not have access to municipal water infrastructure were also affected, as they were left to make use of the rivers and streams as their only water source.

“The recent fish kill that occurred saw local community members harvesting the dead fish for consumption.”

He added that the impact on surrounding farms that use the water for irrigation purposes, have reportedly had a decrease in crop yields of 30%, and sustained damages to irrigation infrastructure.

The City of Mbombela’s spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, said, however, that while the municipality is aware of the fish kill that happened last October, and assisted in cleaning up near by the dams, there was no evidence that the fish were killed by high faecal content in the dams as per the result received at that stage from the sample collected.

“The University of Mpumalanga also collected samples and no results were presented to the municipality alleging sewage pollution. The upstream and downstream of the sewage works are being monitored in terms of the authorised licence conditions.

“The improvement plan to tackle vandalism and theft at the plant and its overall optimisation are being presented to management for consideration and implementation.”

He added that the Barberton waste water treatment facility is being refurbished due to malfunctioning of the machinery and equipment.

“As a result, there is a sub-standard discharge of effluent, meaning that there is partial treatment. Almost all the pumps and equipment are functioning and the process optimisation is being prioritised to revive the organic compound in resuscitating the purification process.”

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