Water research project has Nahoon in the clear
NAHOON river and sea water was independently tested at 14 points for the last time yesterday to conclude an 18-month project run by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa).
The Dispatch observed Wessa project manager Mike Denison, 53, swim and paddle his surfboard to the middle of the river and across to the Bonza Bay side as he drew the last samples to be tested and analysed by Monitor Laboratories in Southernwood.
The owner of the laboratory, water research expert Wayne Selkirk, praised the commitment of Wessa to sampling Nahoon’s natural water systems over a sustained period taking in dry and rainy periods in order to find a true trend.
But while Denison claimed BCM officials in environment, museums and sanitation were part of a network of officials, community activists and stakeholders following the monthly sampling, BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi said:
“BCM has no knowledge of this Wessa 18-month project.
“We will then wait for the publication of the results.”
Denison sampled water from Nahoon Reef, Nahoon Corner, Ihlanza mouth, Blue Bend, Bonza Bay side of the Nahoon mouth, Stirling and Berea (Ihlanza), Torquay, Batting Bridge picnic area, N2, Abbotsford, a stream coming from Nompumelo, Dorchester and finally Horseshoe Valley (upper Nahoon).
The three worst areas were the Ihlanza near a smart new complex, Berea (up from the dip in Chamberlain Road) where there was a stench, and a stream flowing down from Nompumelo to the Christian Centre and into Nahoon River, which he said smelt and looked like black water (sewage).
Denison said an inexpensive and smart solution to the Nahoon beach pollution would be a natural pond system near the driving range which would act as a natural filter.
He said the research would form the basis for a number of innovative solutions which would work in the interim to make some impact while larger infrastructural upgrades were taking place.
These would be incorporated into a Nahoon Point Nature Reserve business plan and would incorporate socio-ecological data and proposed solutions and tourism options.
BCM officials were part of the move to draw up the plan, he said.
Among the suggestions was a smarter community reporting plan where residents could quickly phone the right official during problem times such as during heavy rains when an engineering kink in the sewer line running on the steep western bank of the Nahoon river 400m from the Batting Bridge often blocked and backed up causing manholes to pop.
In another surprise finding, Denison said the water quality at Nahoon Reef had only been stinky and “bad” once during the entire test period. —