Raw sewage is flowing into the Bloubank Spruit due to the negligence of Mogale City’s water services authority.
This information comes from Wisane Mavasa, spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), who blames poor operation and maintenance for the issues at the Percy Stewart Waste Water Treatment Works (PSWWTW).
“The failure to effectively operate and maintain the plant is resulting in partially treated effluent being discharged into the environment,” Mavasa explains.
Despite receiving funding to fix the plant, Mavasa reveals that R8 million of the allocated R200 million was diverted to another project without DWS approval.
“This diversion may have hindered the resolution of the identified problem. The failure to pre-treat industrial waste with high fat content, due to the Gelita pre-treatment plant not functioning, results in raw water with high fat content flowing directly to the works,” Mavasa states.
This leads to accumulation of fats, solids, and grit, causing blockages, overflows, and pollution.
Mavasa notes that the primary settling tank and biofilters are not functioning optimally, resulting in excessive sludge accumulation, and the PSWWTW is not chlorinating.
Criminal charges have been filed against the Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) with plans to hold the polluter accountable.
Residents and businesses in Munsieville and along the Bloubank Spruit are still dealing with the pollution and its effects on a daily basis.
The MCLM denies misappropriation of the funds received from the DWS and assures that the money was used for maintenance, upgrades, and repairs to wastewater treatment plants and water infrastructure.
The municipality acknowledges the PSWWTW is not operating at full capacity, but insists that they scored 65% in last year’s Green Drop water assessment.
Consultants have been hired to address pollution in the Bloubank Spruit, with work underway at the Munsieville pump station.
Trevor Brough, spokesperson for the AMD Monitoring Forum, expresses hope for positive actions from Mogale City to address the pollution issues affecting the community and ecosystems.