Update: Action against bacteria water
According to the Knysna’s municipal manager Lauren Waring, the Knysna Municipality has taken decisive action after water samples taken on June 4 revealed disturbingly high levels of E. Coli at certain points in the estuary.
According to guidelines set out by the Department of Water Affairs (DWAF), water for recreational should not exceed 400 E. Coli/100ml. E. Coli readings taken from urban stormwater culverts, stream outlets and recreational areas in the Knysna Estuary were well above the recommended levels. At the Queen Street culvert 2 419 E. Coli/100ml was measured, 2 419 E.
Coli/100ml at the Train Station (previously Oyster Catcher) culvert, 2 143 E. Coli/100ml at KADA (previously Train Bridge) culvert, 1 203 E. Coli/100ml at Green Hole and 2 419 E. Coli/100ml at Bongani Stream, all indicating disturbingly high levels of bacteria.
Waring gave her assurance that these inflated readings were not due to any spillage from the Knysna Wastewater Treatment Works. “Samples taken of the final effluent as it leaves the plant record 0 E. Coli per 100ml. High readings were, however taken at the Green Hole, Bongani Stream and three of the culverts – Queen Street, Train Station and KADA culverts.”
Waring said that on receiving the high readings, a contractor was immediately appointed to clean the affected culverts on a weekly basis until, at least, the middle of July. “We have also reinstated a slow-release chlorination process in these areas,” she said.
Waring was pleased that the measures taken had already shown to be effective, as follow-up readings taken from the Train Station, Long Street and KADA culverts on June 12, had shown significant improvement. “E. Coli readings at the Train Station culvert are still above the recommended level of less than 400 E. Coli/100ml, but have dropped from more than 2 419 E. Coli/100ml to 1 421 E. Coli/100ml, while readings at the Long Street- and KADA culverts have dropped to well within the safe zone of 160 E. Coli/100ml and 10 E. Coli/100ml respectively.”
Waring further explained that the extended Eskom power outage on Sunday, June 3 may have affected one of the town’s pump stations, “but it is clear that many factors lead to these levels of pollution”, she added.
According to Waring, the problem was not only a historical problem concerning the unsewered northern areas, and added that preliminary investigations showed that “many fat-traps at businesses within the central business district were not being properly used”. Inspections at a selection of homes also showed that many homeowners have their rain water system directly linked to the stormwater system, with downpipes terminating in gully traps.
Waring warned that these practices are illegal and said that the municipality would shortly embark on a public awareness campaign to educate the public on the consequences thereof.
In conclusion, Waring gave her assurance that the municipality was doing everything in its power to remedy the situation. “In the meantime we continue to monitor the situation along with our partners, the Eden District Municipality Department: Municipal Health and SANParks. Rest assured that not only are we doing what we can to lower these levels within the estuary – we are working hard to find ways to prevent this pollution in the first place.”
ARTICLE: FRAN KIRSTEN, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
Source: The Knysna-Plett Herald