Sol denies water works ‘totally non-functional’
THE SOL Plaatje Municipality has denied reports that its Homevale Waste Water Treatment Works is currently “totally non-functional”.
In a recent post on the Save The Flamingo Facebook page, the CEO of Birdlife SA, Mark Anderson, stated that: “Ekapa Mining has achieved more in a few days than what the Sol Plaatje Municipality has achieved in years! They are repairing some of the effluent reticulation system and, just today, with repairs to the Galeshewe gravity pipe, the inflow into the Homevale Waste Water Treatment Works has increased from 9 to 24 megalitres a day! They will now be repairing an electricity power line in order to get power to the Gogga Pump Station, and this could result in a further 15 megalitres a day.”
Anderson went on to say: “The only problem is that the Homevale Waste Water Treatment Works is currently totally non-functional, so untreated effluent will flow into Kamfers Dam (the municipality needs to fix the treatment works asap).”
He added that the extensive area of Phragmites reeds would do some filtration, “but the treatment works need to be repaired”.
Anderson added that Birdlife SA’S Robin Colyn (the KEM-JV Fellow of Bird Conservation) and Dr Andrew Jenkins were monitoring the flamingo breeding event. He added that the team had been monitoring the breeding patterns of the flamingos during daylight hours to detect any signs of colony abandonment by the adults and to prevent disturbance.
“A security company also provides 24-hour security and the committed landowners keep a watchful eye over the dam and flamingos.”
Municipal spokesperson Sello Matsie said yesterday that while the municipality was appreciative of the efforts of Ekapa Mining, he pointed out that it was not true to say that the plant was totally non-functional.
“The inflow of water into Kamfers Dam has increased but this can also be attributed to a number of factors, including the recent rains, as well as the flow from the stormwater drains in the city.”
He added that the municipality had been working on the Galeshewe gravity pipe and the assistance received from Ekapa was welcomed.
“It is true that the agitators at the Homevale Waste Water Treatment Works are not working 100 percent because of the low water levels at the plant.”
Sludge
The sludge de-watering plant has also not yet been commissioned because a plant manager, which requires specialised skills, has still not been appointed by the municipality.
The de-watering plant is aimed at producing dry sludge.
“In the past the sludge was moved to dry beds to dry out but this caused problems when the sludge caught alight. The aim of the plant is to create sludge which can ultimately be used as fertiliser but it must be of a specified standard, so it is important that our personnel have the necessary expertise to do this work.”
Matsie pointed out that the municipality was reluctant to operate the plant without the necessary skills and expertise.
Matsie added that the municipality, like any local authority, was not above receiving assistance from private companies.
“In the past we have received assistance form various firms who have an investment in the welfare of the city and we will not turn our backs on any offers of help. Obviously, increased water levels at Kamfers Dam will also be to the benefit of Ekapa and it would make good business sense for companies like these to invest their expertise in the city.”