DURBAN North resident and founder of the non-profit organisation (NPO) and environmental body, Adopt-a-River, Janet Simpkins, has weighed in on the repair and restoration work being carried out at the Northern Wastewater Treatment Works.

Recently the eThekwini Municipality revealed that project or repair the treatment works plant would cost the City R500 million.

For Adopt-a-River, which carries out regular water quality tests, the project is critical to addressing the excessively high levels of E. coli in the uMngeni River.

Related story: Durban mayor pleased with wastewater treatment works repair project

“While the news is positive about the repair and restoration project, it is long overdue. There should have been a long-term maintenance plan before we got to this point. In essence, the City is fixing what should have been done ages ago, and they are fixing what the floods damaged. One of the key areas of concern for us is the retention dams at the treatment works as they have contributed to the discharge and black waters we’ve seen flowing into the uMngeni River.

“The outfall pipe is one of the areas we test regularly, and it does have a big impact on whether Durban’s beaches stay open or closed. We’ve now built up two years’ worth of data, and not once has the river tested below the acceptable levels for E. coli. We’ve been steadily tracking three sample points: the Northern Wastewater Treatment Works outfall pipe; under the Connaught Bridge near Riverside Road; and under the bridge at Kingfisher Canoe Club at Blue Lagoon. All three points have always shown critical levels of E. coli. This project is so necessary, and the proof [of its success] is going to be when they meet acceptable levels of E. coli in the uMngeni River,” she said.

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