Knysna Estuary & Swartvlei River Pollution Warning
At the Knysna Community Services meeting held yesterday, the results from September’s water samples were presented. They are cause for alarm and the Knysna Municipality must be seriously questioned for failing to alert the public.
Note than non-compliance/danger is a reading higher than 500 E.coli/100ml:
- Queen Street Stormwater – 2419 E.coli/100ml
- Long Street Stormwater – 3000 E.coli/100ml
- Train Station Stormwater – 3000 E.coli/100ml
- KADA Stormwater – 1918 E.coli/100ml
- Crabs Creek (monitored twice) – 3000 E.coli/100ml
I had a mate whose daughter was visiting from Cape Town and she was frustrated with him because he wouldn’t let her swim in the Swartvlei River in Sedgefield. He said that it stinks so bad that it’s obvious that there’s something wrong. Fact is that the river mouth is still blocked and SANParks won’t open it until the water level rises higher. I’m sure there’s ecological reasoning behind such but because of the pollution and the lack of clean running water for Sedgefield, an explanation must be provided to the public. It was also pointed out by an official from Eden District that the spike in pollution may also be caused by the suburb called The Island. This wasn’t explained either.
The final effluent at the Sedgefield waste water treatment works has been a problem for a long time. Again, why is the situation not being explained. Departing Municipal Manager Lauren Waring and Councillor Esme Edge (or was that Councillor Louisa Hart) were quick to point out that the waste water treatment works has nothing to do with the Swartvlei River as it’s an unconnected system. What they never explained is what is happening to the final effluent. Where is it being disposed of?
The final effluence and the Swartvlei River’s mouth’s had the same reading of 2419 E.coli/100ml.
During these school holidays, why were tourists and citizen not warned to not swim in Swartvlei and parts of the Knysna Estuary? Is our tourism image more important than our health?
Even more worrying is that Springfield/Springveld (i’m unfamiliar with it but think the area may be on the N2 past Nekkies on the way to Harkerville) has had NO ELECTRICITY FOR 4 MONTHS. The waste water treatment works there cannot operate without electricity. The problem apparently lies with Eskom’s Pretoria office and Councillor Richard Dawson begged us media (there were only two of us there) to get all the facts from Lauren Waring and give it as much coverage as possible so that pressure forced Eskom to restore power. The supreme ironies are that:
- WHY ARE WE ONLY BEING INFORMED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM NOW?
- MY EMAILS REMAIN BLOCKED BY OUR UNDEMOCRATIC KNYSNA MUNICIPALITY.
If they will give me the info, i will most definitely blog it in the hope it helps Knysna.
The reason why this municipality is not warning the community about the dangers is because it will have a negative effect on tourism. And you must remember that is will also have negative effect on the DA brand.
That why i am not eating anything coming from that lagoon.
This article is both factually incorrect and imbalanced, which is irresponsible reporting! There are various points at which water samples are collected in the Knysna estuary including recreational sites. Information is then placed on the website for public consumption but often people misread and or misinterpret the information. There are various reasons that could cause spikes in ecoli counts, including when the sample is taken. In fact, what often happens when there is a spike is further investigation on the various causes is done. It is irresponsible to send out such a message. I was looking to send you a picture of ‘divers for trash’ and also children swimming in the estuary recently.
Nandi, i’m reporting what happened in the Council chambers and these results were not posted on the Knysna Municipality website as far as i know. Instead, when there are happy results, they are posted there or in Actions Ads. They can’t be selective about them. They must post all. It was said in another meeting today that the problem vanishes a few metres into the estuary and there would be a washing machine effect when the tides comes in and out. But the fact is that they regularly take samples and these were alarmingly up. This issue was addressed as serious in the council. If it wasn’t then they would have ignored it. Crabs Creek samples got taken twice. You don’t have to see physical crap i.e. the presence of E. coli in water is a strong indication of recent sewage or animal waste contamination. Crap breaks down as it comes down the pipes from areas far away. The situation in Swartvlei is suppose to be on a topic in a meeting between Sanparks and the municipality either today or tomorrow – as a SANParks employee, hopefully you are aware of it. If they put that meeting into a report in Council i’ll be sure to say what happened. If you want good news it’s that Bollard Bay and Leisure Isle etc. were clean. And i hope that you contribute to LoveKnysna.com with some good news too. That offer has always been open to SANParks but i think this may be the first comment ever on any of my sites. Participation is cool.
Actually, we should be generating electricity from the methane from the sewage. I hear that a portion of Knysna sewage gets converted to compost for flower farms. There are so many creative options.
What about the cost? – Typically pay back is only a few years, and even with interest on a loan you will find that they become viable – and anyway, how do you put a price on polluted waterways and lagoon?
I won’t cover everything but i will certainly blog about the presentation this morning and the proposed future for our sewage.
Springveld. – Why not instal solar and wind to run the waste water treatment works, and pay it off in savings by not having to pay escom any more?
There was actually a presentation on waste water works this morning and those were mentioned. Although solar is still too expensive, a price passed onto the consumer, it is expected to become viable in the near future.