Apies River gets spring clean
On April 21 the water quality was tested and the result was critical.
The quality of the Apies River water has reached critical, according to a recent clean-up team.
The Tshwane metro, Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Environmental Warriors began clean-up operations of the Apies River from the bridge to Capital Park to Van Der Hoff Road in November after heavy rains that flooded the area.
On April 21 the stakeholders tested the river water quality of water from the river.
DWS scientist Noloyiso Mbiza said the low-lying bridge is continually clogged with debris that causes flooding when it rains.
“The portion from just after the zoo maybe up to Bon Accord, if time allows, will be cleaned up, so the bridge was the first point to clean and test. It was more of unclogging to minimise the waste that was there. The bridge is very low and small compared to the actual river, so all the logs would come and clog, and the water wouldn’t pass through,” Mbiza said.
Mbiza said that as a result water pooled but they were able to clear out the blockage and then clean up.
Community members are unable to use the roads during the heavy rains. Mbiza said that this is why residents came together to address the issue. The clean-ups have been happening once a month to remove the dirt on the bridge.
“We also had to go upstream to check where the logs were coming from and fortunately found out the Pretoria zoo was one of the areas a lot of the logs would come from. So upon talking to them as well, we were able to get them on board. They fixed everything on their side.
We hope they continue doing so and now it’s more of us taking care of the bridge,” said Mbiza.
The partners used the mini stream assessment scoring system (miniSASS), a simple and accessible citizen science tool to monitor water quality and health of stream and river systems … to test water quality, clarity and velocity.
“According to the results, the quality is in a critical condition. We are at a stage where the water is in its worst state, it’s unbearable when we look at the amount of macroinvertebrates we found in the system.
“Also when you check the clarity, we found that there are a lot of pollutants that are getting in. That indicates to us that we have to go upstream and investigate the catchment to see what is happening. At Apies, at the bridge, the water is in critical condition,” said Mbiza.
Mbiza said the condition was so critical that macroinvertebrates could be found and the water was unusable.
Usage can result in infection, rash, and a runny stomach.
The partners are not only tackling the Apies River.
Sampling started in the Groenkloof nature reserve, to the zoo, bridge, Mayville mall and further upstream. These are the points the partners monitor constantly. Their ending point is Bon Accord, and they don’t venture further into the Hammanskraal area.
Environmental Warriors volunteer Ntombizanele Dayel said the bridge is often flooded.
“The flooding drove us to the point of saying that we have to fix what’s going on. Take all the dirt out so that the water can flow nicely. Sometimes when it overflows it becomes too much and the bridge is closed and traffic has to be diverted to the R80,” Dayel said.
Dayel said the next clean-up is scheduled for May but no date has been agreed to yet. Dayel and Mbiza also call on the community to join the clean-up, finance the volunteers and report illegal dumping.
“If anyone sees a truck or car dumping, they must report it because when it rains the water goes all the way to the road and collects everything. Keeping that whole system clean helps.
“We’re planning on going into Pretoria West and educating people on cleaning the system because anything happening upstream ends up stuck at this bridge. People are volunteering, there is no funding, just concerned citizens doing the work. If there could be funding it will assist massively,” said Mbiza.
For more information contact Mbiza on 083 491 4868 or Dayel on 071 344 2526.
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