Concerns grow over eThekwini’s wastewater treatment facilities

DEMAND ANSWERS

- MONISHKA GOVENDER

AMID ongoing water issues in KwaZulu-Natal, the DA has raised concerns over the operational status of eThekwini's wastewater treatment works, revealing alarming statistics and community frustrations regarding environmental degradation and public health risks.

In a parliamentary question, Hannah Lidgett, the DA spokesperson on environmental affairs for KZN, questioned the state of infrastructure at the Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTWs).

In its reply, the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) confirmed that only three of eThekwini’s six WWTWs in Kwandengezi, Glenwood, Umdloti, Northern, Umbilo, and uMhlanga — were operating at full capacity and repairs were needed.

Lidgett also questioned how many environmental rehabilitation projects had been initiated since 2022 to address the contamination of rivers, wetlands and coastal areas.

Dr Bonginkosi Dlamini, chief director of environmental management for the Edtea, responded that the repairs were undertaken by eThekwini Municipality in response to the S28 of Nema directive (remediation of environmental damage) which was issued by this department to the city to address the contamination following the 2022 flooding.

Lidgett also asked what percentage of the repair projects were fully operational.

Dlamini responded that all the pump stations (100%) were operational post repairs, but not fully functional.

“However, these facilities do experience overflows which is in most cases due to high rainfall, and occasionally when there is blockage in the system due to foreign objects.

“All the repaired sewer networks (100%) are operational. All WWTWs are functional and have improved in terms of compliance on the outflow water quality results.

“It must be noted, however, that not all facilities are fully functional,” said Dlamini.