SAVE – Further successes On 21 November 2008, the High Court ordered Emfuleni to repair its sewer system but after effecting those repairs, SAVE discovered that the Rietspruit waste water treatment works were non-functional. The sewage which entered the works was pumped out into the Vaal River, untreated. The results of the water tests which proved that Emfuleni is still pumping thousands of mega litres of raw sewage into the Rietspruit, which flows into Loch Vaal and eventually into the Vaal River, were placed before the Court this morning when SAVE, once again, approached the Court for assistance. Emfuleni was ordered by acting judge Freund to repair the waste water works immediately. Emfuleni must pay SAVE’s costs in both applications. Lötter Wepener, chairman of SAVE, welcomed the assistance from the Court. “We have been engaging the Emfuleni municipality for the past 18 months. Both SAVE and DWAF have been negotiating with Emfuleni in order assist to get their house in order, but to no avail. Despite promised deadlines by Emfuleni to stop the pollution of the River, it has not materialised and continual pollution with sewage from its sewers and waste water treatment works compelled SAVE to approach the court. Emfuleni simply fails to take the responsibility and maintain its infrastructure”. River users must please be aware that the water will not be safe for a considerable period of time and that contact with the water is dangerous to humans. SAVE is also making contact with the Department of Water Affairs and Rand Water with an appeal to ‘flush’ the barrage reservoir by opening more gates at the Vaal Barrage. Rotting fish in themselves create a further health problem. Raw sewage in the water is highly dangerous and can cause illnesses such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery, cryptosporidium cysts and giardia cysts. It also leads to the formation of cyano bacteria in the water which is an extremely toxic algae which can kill off both aquatic and bird life, as experienced over the past two weeks. Cholera outbreaks are always a possibility when sewage flows into rivers. Members of the public must be aware of these dangers. “When will we see our first case of cholera from the Vaal River?”, Wepener said. Emfuleni has now finally embarked on a project to remove the dead fish and so reduce the health hazard caused by its pollution of the River. It must do so without delay as the court orders compel Emfuleni to do so. River users must please be aware that the water will not be safe for a considerable period of time and that contact with the water is dangerous to humans. SAVE is also making contact with the Department of Water Affairs and Rand Water with an appeal to ‘flush’ the barrage reservoir by opening more gates at the Vaal Barrage. However, this will not help the area from the Rietspruit via the Loch Vaal and lower parts pf the barrage reservoir as raw sewage will continue to be channelled through the area for at least the nest six weeks. Donations to SAVE can be made into its account at FNB Vanderbijl Park (25094500) account number 512-900-844-03 – fax payment record to 086 672 9361). Issued by Lötter Wepener |