How we can help save our beaches from pollution
Wessa Eden Committee:
The time has come for a more modern and ethical approach to waste management. It has come to the attention of Wessa that our beautiful bays – Victoria Bay and Ballot's
Bay - are under severe threat of pollution. Two videos posted on the website of the George Herald are revealing. One shows black industrial sludge flowing into the ocean at the mouth of the Meulen River. The other one taken by a guesthouse owner, Colin
Horn, shows raw sewage overflowing from the municipal sewer network onto the beach via a storm water pipe. (The municipality has in the meantime issued a statement saying that their sewer network was intact and that this was not sewage. Their water test results confirmed this. - See article elsewhere in paper.) It is therefore high time that local authorities come clean as to what dangerous pollution the swimming public is exposed to at Victoria Bay - especially in the holiday season - when the ablution facilities are under pressure.
Wessa spoke to concerned homeowners and the following emerged: The Ballot's
Bay Homeowners have been monitoring the Meulen River. Regular water testing has revealed that industrial chemicals as well as raw sewage has been flowing into the river for the past three years, killing off all life in the river including the iconic Cape Clawless Otter.
The Meulen River mouth is a mere 300 metres from Victoria Bay. This means that surfers and our dolphin population are exposed to this toxic mix and some of this likely washes up onto the beach.
The authorities, industrialists and the public must collectively play their part at tackling this issue. What can be done to turn this unacceptable situation around?
A public awareness must be created alongside an education programme as to what our collective responsibilities are. There must by necessity be less talk and more action from the authorities' side.
1. A monthly report on the state of our rivers must be published to show the extent of the problem and also what steps are being taken to address this. There is no transparency currently.
2. The public must be educated as to the effects that their own daily habits add to the blockage of the network, including throwing disposable nappies and condoms down their toilets. When sewage drains overflow, it flows to the lowest point and that is usually a local river or steam.
3. Industrialists must upgrade their antiquated waste disposal systems and must be prepared to show how they manage and dispose of their waste (and not let it run into the municipal storm water systems).
4. The George Municipality must speed up their upgrades of the sewage networks, some of which are totally inadequate for the burgeoning population.
We all want to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and to be able to relax at our favourite beach without having to worry about pollution. But this means that people need to live ethically and rethink their own actions and this includes not throwing cigarette butts onto the beach, and also reducing the plastic in circulation.
The authorities must face up to it that the two most recent incidents were NOT onceoffs and start taking action. George is the second largest city in the Western Cape with some of the highest paid officials who have to manage these complex issues. Tourism is a lucrative business and we risk losing out to more pro-active municipalities.
Industrialists must stop taking shortcuts. Wessa Eden appeals to role players to please stop procrastinating and send out their inspectors and come up with solutions with great urgency. After all, these are our prime resorts' future in your hands.
Wessa Eden also appeals to our community leaders to assist us in creating an awareness of the devastating effect of littering and pollution.
Beachgoers - think what you can do to play your part; and above all: Ratepayers, keep your politicians accountable as it is they who influence public spending.