Nahoon sewage spill triggers lawsuit threat
● Results of E. coli tests awaited after East London beach closed for fourth time this year
The Buffalo City Metro (BCM) faces the prospect of another legal challenge after a sewage spill on Friday shut East London’s Nahoon Beach for the fourth time this year.
According to the city, the spill was the result of vandalism at the Ihlanza pump station.
“The municipality’s amenities section has taken a decision to close the beach based on advice from the engineering department,” BCM said in a statement.
Nahoon Beach remained closed yesterday afternoon as BCM awaited the results of water samples to determine water safety. The Nahoon Estuary Management Forum conceded that incidents of vandalism were on the rise in the metro but said BCM did not provide the necessary security to prevent damage to municipal property.
“Though some pump stations are fenced, criminals still find ways of gaining access to damage and steal property. BCM needs to strengthen security,” the forum’s chair, Christo Theart, said.
He said sewage spills were not caused solely by vandalism, but also by the lack of a backup power supply.
“A backup power supply could prevent spillages from occurring. There are pumps that store sewage for about three hours when there is no power, but BCM refuses to put those in place.”
Theart said the forum planned a new challenge in the high court regarding the ongoing spills.
“It is against municipal bylaws and the constitution to spill toxic substances into open water,” he said.
“Every time a spillage happens, BCM is contravening the [law], and also contravening the constitution.
“We aim to take them to the high court and fight this matter.”
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said thieves had vandalised the 11kV cable at the Ihlanza pump house that transports sewage to the East Bank treatment works plant.
“The cable was restored and the plant restarted within 18 hours after the vandalism was noticed.
“Audited results [for E. coli] can only be confirmed after 24 hours of sampling, which was the main reason the beach needed to stay closed.
“Until we can scientifically confirm that the water is safe, the beach will remain closed.”
Ngwenya said the cables ran below a bridge, which was meant to secure them under normal circumstances.
However, due to vagrants loitering in the area, the cables were exposed.
“The cables are concrete encased until they disappear into the ground in areas where it is not possible to place cameras or monitor the entire cable length.”
Ngwenya said the metro had placed private guards in its demarcated facilities and cameras at pump stations and treatment facilities.
“It was not practical to place surveillance over the entire cable length, which then opens the way for vandals.
“But we are continually improving our security systems, as seen in the reduction of incidents at the pump station, so the next stage is to secure the entire cable,” Ngwenya said.
Dean Knox, owner of Jonginenge Eco-Adventure, said the repeated sewage spills negatively affected the ecosystem and businesses were losing revenue.
“Nahoon [spills] have been going on for too long. This has a detrimental effect on the ecosystem.
“The Nahoon lifesaving club had to close because of the spillage.”
Knox said the Nahoon infrastructure was 70 years old, and needed to be upgraded.
“The city is growing; new townhouses are being built and the population is growing.
“All the sewage is flowing straight to the Nahoon sewer, which is not strong enough.”
He said the system was small, which was why there was a recurring overflow into the ocean.
“BCM has to anticipate that this is an ongoing problem.
“They should have a backup generator and overflow tank that can hold three or four hours of sewage.”