Hyacinth remain a threat for the Vaal

The increasing occurence of hyacinths on the Vaal River might soon again be just as big a source of concern than water lettuce on the Vaal. In some areas the hyacinths has taken over from the water lettuce and might soon be the new calamity authorities will have to face. As hyacinths is the stronger plant this was expected according to experts and earlier warnings of the Vaal River Rats.

The past weekend an urgent meeting to discuss the water lettuce crisis and the way forward, was held at Stonehaven on Vaal . River Property Owners, as well as representatives of Department of Water and Sanitation, as well as Rand Water attended the meeting.

Till now the community has been nothing but outstanding in their efforts to physically and mechanically remove water lettuce. This work costs a lot and only a few river property owners have contributed so far, or came on board to assist with the removal.

What was clear from Saturday’s meeting was that government does not have the funding to combat the problem efficiently, and that there will have to be reliance on help from the private sector.

Rand Water, earlier stated that an integrated approach including physical removal, biocontrol and chemical application is followed in managing water lettuce and hyacinth on the Vaal.

Spraying of the herbicide Glyphosate on the Vaal was done for the first time in February but stopped after wide spread reaction.

In answer to Gazette’s question if spraying of water lettue on the Vaal River will be done again, Rand Water on Wednesday said they await approval for the emergncy application from DALRRD (the Registrar), whereafter they will make a final submission to Department of Water and Sanitation for a revised General Authorisation. As soon as it is received, they can proceed. The herbicide to be used will be made known once it is official, Rand Water said.

Rand Water added that it was confirmed at the community meeting that spraying will be untertaken as physical removal of the invasive species is not enough, considering its exponential growth. “We did emphasize that we will only spray once we receive the necessary permits etc. and mentioned that we hope to receive all the permits and the General Authority (GA) by Friday 12 April,” Rand Water said.

“The community indicated that if the licences are received by the end of this week, they would like to start within a few days. They will fund this spraying themselves, but will do all work according to our approved GA,” Rand Water said.

Prof. Anthony Turton’s earlier warning that no eutrophic system in SA has ever been effectively rehabilitated should not go unnoticed. He explained that a eutrophic system has high levels of nutrients, typically phosphate and nitrate, usually associated with sewage return flows

“We are polluting our drinking water systems with untreated sewage, and this simple fact has major economic and social consequenses over time,” Turton said.

He added that the cost of making this water safe for human consumption will be passed onto the consumer. The logical solution is to stop polluting our rivers with untreated sewage.

With the alarming condition of numerous municipal sewage plants, stricter action against those responsible for pollution has long been pleaded for.

The excessive growth of invasive plants such at water lettuce and hyacinth in the Vaal River can lead to a series of ecological problems including the suffocation of other aquatic plants, and can negatively affect the viability of other aquatic animals. It can also clog water pumps on the river bank and cause damage to farmers’ equipment.

As long as we treat the symptoms rather than the cause, we are fighting a losing battle against the stranglehold of invasive plants on the Vaal.

* Selma Kok from Vaal Action Group once again appealed to river property owners to o remove water lettuce and hyacinth in front of their property and not to polute via septic tanks or sewar spill.