River pollution poses deadly threat

The ongoing discharge of dangerously high levels of untreated wastewater into the Sand and Blood rivers from the Polokwane Municipality's wastewater treatment works (WWTW) has now escalated to a stage where dying vegetation on the banks of the river and decomposed fish are a common sight.

- Barry Viljoen

This crisis, caused by failing municipal wastewater treatment infrastructure, poses a severe threat to public health, the environment and local livelihoods as some of the more than 200 boreholes that the municipality utilises to augment its water resources, are fed from the underground water coming from the rivers.

According to DA caucus leader in the municipality, Johan Retters, they recently submitted water samples from both rivers to independent, accredited laboratories for analysis following ongoing concerns from local communities and environmental stakeholders.

The results have now confirmed what residents have long feared - the Polokwane, Seshego and Mankweng WWTW have

Wastewater from the city continues to place pressure on the system

recorded E. coli levels at an alarming 385,000 CFU/100ml - nearly 1 000 times the acceptable limit of 400 CFU/100ml.