KZN government assesses UPL pollution control dam after floods
This comes after the control dam overflowed due to the heavy flooding.
THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) says it is keeping a close watch on the impact of the flood damage on the United Phosphorus Limited (UPL) Pollution Control Dam (PCD) at the Cornubia site.
This comes after the control dam overflowed into the Ohlanga tributary due to the heavy flooding.
The UPL warehouse in Cornubia was set on fire during the KZN unrest in July last year which led to an environmental disaster and the closure of several beaches.
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Department spokesperson, Angel Sibisi confirmed that an inter-departmental team made up of EDTEA, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and eThekwini Municipality has conducted physical inspections to assess the impact of the overflow.
“The department has noted that the last test result on March 29, 2022, revealed a relatively very low level of contamination. Any risk will also be further mitigated by a high dilution factor due to the high volume of floodwaters and further dispersal downstream. The Department has been advised by experts that the overflow is therefore not of concern,” Sibisi said.
She added the team would however continue to monitor the situation and have further tests conducted at the PDC as well as downstream up to the estuary and the ocean.
“The public is reminded that the area remains an ‘exclusion zone’ in force. The zone is one kilometre north and south of the estuary and into the sea is out of bounds for recreation, fishing and marine resource harvesting,” she said.
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