Update
HESSEQUA NEWS - The Hessequa Municipality has been notified about the potential contamination of a marsh pond located adjacent to the Witsand wastewater treatment works.
Following the emergence of videos on Facebook and the receipt of a communication from the ministry, a comprehensive investigation was conducted by the Mayor, Grant Riddles, members of the Mayoral Committee, the Municipal Manager, Albert de Klerk, and senior personnel from the Technical department.
Upon conducting an on-site investigation, it was observed that the marsh dam is situated over 250 meters away from the wastewater treatment plant. Furthermore, no signs of sewer spillage were detected, contradicting the claims made by the complainants.
The irrigation dam, which had experienced an unusually low evaporation rate and a high level of rainfall in recent months, was nearly full and had to be emptied. No foul sewer odour could be detected.
In 2007, the wastewater treatment plant underwent an upgrade that encompassed the installation of primary, secondary and tertiary ponds and an irrigation dam.
To ensure proper containment, all of these ponds were lined with a 2.5-micron HDPE plastic liner, while the irrigation dam received an additional layer of clay. This protective measure was implemented specifically to safeguard against any potential underground pollution.
As reported by the complainants, the water in the marsh pond has tested positive for Clostridium perfringens.
In response, Hessequa Municipality promptly requested the assistance of the Garden Route District Municipality to appoint an independent service provider to assess the water in the marsh pond and wastewater treatment plant for potential Clostridium perfringens, which can be harmful to humans and animals.
The results have been obtained and reveal that there were no traces of Clostridium perfringens bacteria detected in the marsh pond.
However, it's worth noting that traces of Clostridium perfringens were found in the wastewater treatment plant. This occurrence is considered normal within wastewater treatment facilities, as the presence of this bacterium is a typical feature in such environments.
A meeting was convened with the Witsand/Port Beaufort Ratepayers Association to review and discuss the results.
During this meeting, it was unanimously agreed upon by all parties that there was no evidence of sewage spillage, thus eliminating any potential environmental risks.
READ MORE: Witsand besorg oor rioolwater
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