Sewage flows into Nonoti River

There’s something in the air in Darnall, and it isn’t the smell of spring arriving.

Residents of the town and the nearby Lindelani township are seriously concerned about sewage leaking into the Lindelani stream and into the Nonoti River.

Sewage seeps from manholes in the middle of the township, surrounded by homes, women washing clothes and children playing.

Also read: Sewage, rotting flesh and industrial effluent in Mandeni

The sewage issue has been ongoing since the beginning of the year, with dead fish even being observed in the Nonoti earlier this year.

The sewage leaks are semi-constant, seeping into the soil and stream and with the arrival of any rain, becomes a gushing fount of human waste.

Darnall Conservancy chairman and local farmer David Clewlow said this had been an ongoing issue.

“The farmers are concerned about the safety of the water they are getting from the Nonoti River,” he said.

“However, even more worrying is the sewage in the middle of the township where children play and people get water from the stream for household tasks.”

He said they had engaged with the municipality regarding this issue, but felt they were not being taken seriously.

However the Ilembe District Municipality, which is responsible for water and sanitation, has not responded to enquiries over the last two weeks.

So in the meantime, it seems as though locals will just have to pinch their noses and get on with it.

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