Residents still waiting for solution to water stench

THE Milnerton Lagoon community might have to wait nearly four years before enjoying a cleaner and odourless environment as the problematic Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) is still in the procurement phase and implemented interventions are deemed to be ineffective by the public.

This as the City welcomed its reward of being the first South African city to receive a wetland status, joining 53 other countries worldwide, leading to it needing to establish a Diep River Catchment Forum.

Eddie Andrews, the City’s Mayco Member for Spatial Planning and Environment said, “This Wetland City accreditation of the Ramsar Convention places the City at the forefront of global cities managing their wetland areas in a sustainable manner. Issues of water quality and quantity, development pressure on wetland areas and their buffers, plus other aspects influencing the health of the City’s wetlands remains key, with active management thereof to be shown so as to maintain this accreditation going into the future.”

Siseko Mbandezi, the City’s Acting Mayco Member for Water and Sanitation, added that the Diep River Catchment forum would be established by July 2023. It will comprise of key catchment stakeholders.

“Representatives on the forum will be assigned to different portfolios and have different responsibilities. A chairperson, vice-chairperson and a secretary will be appointed.”

The announcement comes as the City is facing heated criticism for poor management of its local water and sanitation plants which are said to be transmitting and contaminating the water bodies in the Milnerton area just like in many other wetlands across the City.

The Milnerton community is seemingly bearing the worst as there are currently two under construction plants in the vicinity including Koeberg.

Although their envisioned longterm goal is recognised, Caroline Marx, the chairperson for the Milnerton Residents Ratepayers’ Association said it is hoped that Cape Town receiving this award would translate into more awareness and better care for local wetlands.

“It is not acceptable that residents should be expected to tolerate the level of environmental and economic damage currently being experienced for the next four years.

“The establishment of the Diep River Forum is an important step in managing the river system as a whole.

“However action solves problems not committees.

“For the forum to be effective will require active participation from government officials, industry and farming representatives and concerned civilian organisations.

“To date the measures to prevent the pollution entering the Lagoon at the Erica Road outlet remain inadequate with the daily flow of highly polluted run-off into the Lagoon continuing.

“The recent severe and ongoing non-compliance of Potsdam WWTW with safety standards is very disappointing.

“The City states that the upgrade contract will only be signed in 2023 so where is the sense of urgency?” Marx said.

Supplied THE City of Cape Town admits the Lower Diep River, including the Milnerton Lagoon, is in a poor ecological state due to diffuse sources of pollution. |