Authorities are investigating why the Boksburg Lake’s water turned a rusty colour recently. Suspicions among residents and role players are that a chemical leak from upstream factories might be to blame.

Ekurhuleni Metro spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini, confirmed that a team of specialists from the city’s Water Quality and Environment department was dispatched to investigate the matter earlier this week.

“The matter is still under investigation and results will be made public once we are done,” said Dlamini.

Chemical type will narrow down possible culprits

A well-placed source, who spoke to the Boksburg Advertiser on the condition that his name be withheld, confirmed that water samples were taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis.

“The aim is to determine what substance and what company is responsible for the discolouration and pollution of the water,” said the source.

The newspaper ascertained that the substance responsible for the pollution reached the lake through the concrete stormwater channel which runs through the industrial sites upstream, including Cason and Andebolt.

While visiting the scene, journalists also found that discoloured water came from underground drainage pipes and flowed into the channel next to the bridge on Campbell Road (Cason), before flowing down the channel to the lake inlet.

Residents complain of foul smell

Vaughan Mohammed, who lives near the channel in Cason, said there was a nauseating smell of rotting eggs over the weekend of May 16 and 17, but they had no idea where it emanated from.

“We then discovered that the lake’s water had changed colour and that the smell was coming from the lake. We all suspect the culprit is the nearby factories, and it’s not the first time that chemicals have been disposed of like this.

“This continuing pollution is not good for our health or the environment. Officials must do their jobs and deal with the perpetrators.”

Security guards at Boksburg Lake said they started to notice the colour change on May 15.

When the newspaper revisited the area late last week journalists noted the rust colour of the water was gradually fading.

Ward councillor calls for urgent investigation

Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos, who initially alerted the newspaper to the environmental crisis, said he was also shocked about the water’s discoloration.

The change in colour, he said appeared to be caused by contaminants. He also suspected the culprit was one of the factories in the nearby industrial sites upstream.

De Vos called on the metro to investigate this as a matter of urgency.

This incident is the latest in a series of similar previous episodes. The Boksburg Advertiser has previously reported that the lake was found to be contaminated with what appeared to be a layer of oil that had made its way into the water, creating an ecological disaster.