MOUNTING PROBLEMS

The biggest problems facing the Olifants catchment: - Acidic water containing heavy metals and sulphates caused by historic mining and industrial activities; - Excessively high nutrient loads from failing wastewater treatment works and farms, causing eutrophication in the Olifants River and Loskop Dam; - Excessively high microbial input from wastewater treatment works, causing potential health risks across the catchment; - Pollutants have caused widespread eutrophication, localised toxic water quality and increased the potential for bioaccumulation of pollutants through the food chain.