Huge cost for chemical spill clean-up
Clean-up of Wierda Road chemical spill to take more time.
The cost to clean up the chemical spill next to Wierda Road will amount to nearly R300 000, said Democratic Alliance ward councillor Ina Strijdom.
Tshwane Emergency Services (TES) spokesperson Johan Pieterse confirmed this.
He attributed the cost to the work needed to remove the contaminated ground and to properly dispose of it.
28 166l barrels were dumped illegally next to Wierda Road between Ashwood Drive and Selborne Avenue.
Vagrants spotted the barrels and emptied the contents onto the ground. They apparently wanted to sell the containers for scrap metal.
Passing police officers spotted the vagrants and immediately cordoned off the area.
TES and a team from the city’s environmental services were brought in to assess the liquid. They determined that the liquid was not harmful to people and reopened the road later that same afternoon.
It will however have a damaging effect on the surrounding environment.
The process of cleaning the area started on Wednesday afternoon and is still underway.
“The metro has called in an external company to clear the chemical spill and to remove the contaminated ground,” said Strijdom.
Workers slogged until 01:00 on Thursday morning to clear the spill. The process is tedious and will continue on Friday.
“The chemical that spilled is not the only chemical that was dumped in the barrels. Some of the other unopened barrels contain another unknown liquid. Tests are being done to determine what the barrels contain,” she said.
“The barrels were apparently dumped by an unknown company on Tuesday. It is imperative that they are identified and held responsible for this mess.”
Pieterse has warned of ‘severe repercussions’ for anyone caught dumping toxic substances.
“There are multiple sites, including one in Alberton, to properly dispose of toxic waste and chemicals,” he said.
“Not only is it illegal to dump any toxic substance, but it will now cost the metro a lot of time, effort and money to clean. Whoever did this will be prosecuted,” said Pieterse.
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