IN the past two years, water-quality tests along various sections of the uMngeni River have revealed just how polluted the river is with E. coli (sewage bacteria).

Last year, in particular, the river regularly showed elevated levels of E. coli.

Janet Simpkins, founder of the non-profit organisation (NPO) and environmental body, Adopt-a-River, said the critical levels of E. coli are deeply concerning.

“The results speak for themselves. The uMngeni River has been non-compliant since 2022. We’ve now built up two years’ worth of data, and not once has the river tested below the acceptable levels. We’ve been steadily tracking three sample points: the Northern Waste Water Treatment Works outfall pipe; under the Connaught Bridge near Riverside Road, and under the bridge at Kingsfisher Canoe Club at Blue Lagoon. All three points have always shown critical levels of E. coli.

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“What we are hoping for this year is that the amalgamation of Umgeni Water with uMhlathuze Water to form the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board will sow positive seeds. We now know they’ve taken over the maintenance of 10 wastewater works, including the Northern Waste Water Treatment Works. As an environmental organisation, we are really hoping to see some kind of positive change, especially in terms of water-quality samples,” she said.

She added that malfunctioning pump stations were also contributors to high levels.

“We regularly see a spike in E. coli readings after heavy rains. What is also concerning is that we are also tracking the uMbilo River and uMdloti River which both are heavily polluted. We need the City’s commitment to ensure we can save our rivers,” she said.

The eThekwini Municipality said it is actively monitoring and deeply concerned about the elevated E. coli readings in the uMngeni River.

“We acknowledge the implications the elevated E. coli levels have on both environmental health and public well-being. The City is committed to addressing this issue promptly and implementing necessary measures to safeguard the river and its surrounding areas,” explained City spokesperson Gugu Sisilana. “The City has made significant progress in restoring wastewater treatment infrastructure damaged by the storms of April 2022 and June 2023.

“Despite all these interventions, the City continues to suffer relentless theft, vandalism and abuse of the infrastructure – dumping of unwanted/foreign objects into the sewer system, leading to sewer blockages – which also leads to infrastructure failures and pump station overflows. Therefore, it is difficult to proclaim that infrastructure failure will not occur under these conditions if the public continues to abuse and vandalise the City’s sewer infrastructure,” she said.

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Sisilana added that river-water quality is also impacted by the weather patterns and whenever there is heavy rainfall.

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