E-coli is still an issue in Del Judor
“The residents of Del Judor are once again very concerned that the water in the dam remains polluted presenting a health hazard to the area and ultimately to the Olifants River,”
It has been at least eight weeks since the problem of the E-coli ridden dam in Louise Street was reported and still nothing has been done.
An article featured in WITBANK NEWS in late August detailed how sewage flows from a manhole situated along the N4 Highway, under the highway and through the Emalahleni Department of Environmental Affairs grounds and into the dam in Louise Street.
The dam in Louise Street is a breeding ground for E-coli.
The issue was first reported to the Emalahleni Municipality on August 18 by DA ward Councillor Lizelle Steyn. On Monday August 29, Mr Stanley White, chairman of the Del 4 Residents Association and Mr Clive Hatch, a committee member of the association took samples of the water and sent them off to Regen Waters Labaratory for analysis.
The analysis of the water sample showed that there is an excess of 2 420 units of E-coli per 100ml of water.
“According to the results there seems to be a high concentration of raw sewage in the water, the sample that was submitted contained a high concentration of E-coli. This can be a health risk to the community as the water contains a high count of pathogenic (disease carrying) bacteria,” said Mr Ludolf Uys, Regen Waters Laboratory owner, in a previous article.
He added that sewage water discharged into dams or streams must contain a zero E-coli count, the reason being to prevent the spreading of diseases into rivers and dams.
Mr Theo van Vuuren, Municipal Manager was contacted regarding these findings and referred the matter to Mr Shadrak Ndlovu and Mr Collen Blankies, both employed at the Emalahleni Municpality’s department of water works.
Since the issue has been reported the dam has dried up, but the E-coli presence has not dissipated, and with the recent rains, has once again sprung up out of the waterworks so to speak.
A second sample of water was sent to Regen Waters and returned showing an excess of 2 420 units of E-coli per 100ml present in the water at the dam.
Mr Hatch took samples of the water again on October 24 which were sent to Regen Waters for analysis and were found to be in excess of E-coli, the report received from Regen Waters details that the water has a count in excess of 2 420 units of e-coli per 100ml.
“The residents of Del Judor are once again very concerned that the water in the dam remains polluted presenting a health hazard to the area and ultimately to the Olifants River,” said Hatch.
Mr Hatch further contacted Mr Jackson Mzila of the South African Human Rights Commission regarding the issue and the health risks imposed thereof, he is still waiting for feed back from the HRC.
“The deputy director, sewer assistant manager and myself were on site today. We also met up with ward Councillor Steyn and looked at the two issues at hand,” said Mr Theo van Vuuren, municipal manager.
He added that in the first instance the dam was polluted as the drain covers were stolen and dumping of foreign objects into it caused blockages at the N4. This resulted in serious contamination of the dam. The technical directorate has since then cleared the blockages and has treated the dam with chemicals. As of today this dam is nearly fully rehabilitated but some further treatment would still have to be done.
“In respect of the second dam we are faced with a serious and repeating problem. The pipeline has been damaged where it crosses Afrisam. Last year we have investigated the matter and cameras were sent through the system to determine the extent of the problem. It was the intension to correct the line last year. However, legal issues with the contractor and consultant prevented that project to continue at that stage,” he said.
He continued in saying that the Del Judor problem will be attended immediately,
“firstly again on an emergency basis attending to the current blockages, but secondly by a permanent solution where a new pipeline will be installed at an estimated cost of R8-million. The specifications have been done and within this month and contractors will be appointed on a turn key basis. We are not sure yet whether we will be able to be on site and get much done before the contractors break in December, if not, work will start in January. This should finally bring an end to this long outstanding problem,” said Van Vuuren.
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