Testing Newcastle’s ‘troubled waters’

AfriForum Newcastle launched a campaign to clean the green in Ncandu River recently.

The Green and Blue Drop initiative spearheaded by chairman, Peet Liebenberg, Gert Strydom and Marike Collyer, aimed to conduct various water tests at several locations on March 19.

During a jam-packed day for the parties involved, samples were taken in and around Newcastle.

Blue Drop tests of water used for consumption were conducted at Huttenpark Primary School, Amajuba High School, Arbor Park Primary School and La Gratitude.

Green Drop samples were taken at the Ngagane Water Purification Plant near the Ncandu River.

Lastly, pollution tests were conducted at the Ncandu Weir, the Hardwick Street bridge and near Amcor Dam, the results of which promise to be a proverbial can of worms.

The outcome of the tests will be made available within the week. While the ‘bad news’ cannot get much worse, the community can only hope stakeholders will devise a sustainable, yet highly effective plan to rid the river of rubbish before it’s too late.