Preserving Munster for the Future

The sewage ponds have been dysfunctional for a number of years. Despite the matter being brought to the attention of UGU the situation has remained the same. 

 

The Munster Residents and Ratepayers' Association is a member of the Green Town Project (GTP). It is a group of concerned citizens from the Lower South Coast area who joined hands in monitoring E.coli levels in and around the villages. Water samples are taken from different problem areas in the villages  and sent to the UGU laboratory. Each village can send in four water samples every three weeks. We meet three monthly to discuss problem areas, results and possible solutions. During the past few years it has become obvious that most, if not all the ground water in and around all the villages, from Margate to Port Edward, is contaminated with E.coli. All results with readings above 1000 coliforms per 100ml need to be followed up to find the source of contamination. The origin of most of the contaminated areas around the villages are old and dysfunctional septic tanks. We have had a few successes with homeowners taking responsibility and repairing the defunct septic tanks. Septic tanks are however not the only source of contamination since water contaminated by human and animal faeces flows from the higher lying and rural areas down towards the lower lying villages. 

 

At our three monthly meetings all the villages reported that their sewage plants were dysfunctional and not maintained. Port Edward had raw sewage spilled into the Estuary, resulting in the beach being closed to the public during the 2022 festive season. Ramsgate has raw sewage spilling into the river near the Waffle House. Palm Beach has the same problem. They contacted the Green Scorpions who sent out an inspector from The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. After a number of requests he eventually sent out his report, only to state that he is unable to report on the sewage spill!  The problem with the sewage ponds at the Leisure Bay transfer station was brought to my attention by a local resident in November 2021. I reported the matter to Vasi Mannewer from UGU.Subsequently some windowdressing took place, but no repairs or maintenance followed. After the flooding in April 2023 I noticed a visible/direct sewage spill from the ponds into the Tongazi River. I was unable to get close to the spill but  asked someone to row upstream and take a sample. The result was only 900/100ml which seemed too low for a raw sewage spill. On 19 May 2023 Ms Phumeleo Moyo, UGU's health inspector visited Munster. A number of problem areas were brought to her attention, of which the sewage spill was one. We visited the ponds and she indicated that she would take the matter up with her supervisor, Ms. Mannewer. To date we have not had any response from their office.

 

Port Edward's Green Town Project members have gone to lengths to engage with UGU in an attempt to rectify the sewage spills in their area. They have had little assistance from UGU. The GTP chairman has mentioned a few options we have in managing the problem, of which getting hold of the green scorpions was one. We have all supplied him with all our documentation and he is looking into taking the matter further.