The latest E coli readings for several Durban beaches, published by water treatment specialist company Talbot, reflects a vast improvement in the beach water (Peter Titmuss/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Durban’s residents will carry out an independent water safety research project to force eThekwini metro to fix one of its biggest pollution sources that is pumping raw sewage into the Umgeni River.
Save our Rivers and Sea from Sewage (SORS-FS) announced this week that it will soon release its report on the Northern wastewater treatment works (WWTW).
The SORS-FS’s director, Johan Jooste, said the path chosen by the NGO, formed by concerned residents, including river and ocean paddlers, conservationists and lawyers, was an evidence-based approach reliant on expert opinion, research and analysis.
He said they would take on eThekwini metro, and possibly other water authorities, over the dilapidated waste water treatment works polluting river systems from Umkomaas on the South Coast to Umdloti on the North Coast.
“I love paddling in the sea on my surf ski — we call ourselves the chilled paddlers — and this time of the year we go out and see lots of dolphins and we have little flying fish that leap out of the water and glide a few centimetres like a round arch and back into the sea,” Jooste said.
“The last straw for me was after the April 2022 floods when they started closing beaches, first to swimmers and then to surfers. We thought we were okay because we are sitting on top of the water and we sometimes paddle 6km out to sea. But even at one kilometre out we see the sewage — oily with bubbles floating on the surface of the water — and with it plastic and rubbish that has been thrown in the streets and washed into the storm water drains into the sea.”
“The whole Northern water works is not functioning and there is a current that goes to the north and deposits all the untreated sewage water onto the beaches in Umhlanga and that has such an impact on tourism, and when I saw this when I was paddling I said ‘enough is enough’. I spoke to a few friends and we decided to do something,” Jooste said.
He pointed out that the seriousness of the problem is highlighted in eThekwini metro’s May report on the city’s river systems.
Independent water testing company Talbot published its results on its website on 3 July, showing critical levels of E coli of more than 500ppm/100ml (parts per million per100 millilitres in seawater at several Durban beaches. The ideal range should be from 0 to 250ppm/100ml, while a range of 250 to 500ppm/100ml is “acceptable”, according to scientific standards.
The results of Talbot’s tests taken on 29 June all show critical levels of the bacterium.
Jooste said he and other Durban residents, including several lawyers such as Adrian Camp as well as Adopt-a-River director Janet Simpkins, want the city to implement corrective measures immediately, failing which the SORS-FS will take legal action to force the city to act.
He added that the NGO has decided to focus on the Northern water treatment works along the Umgeni River.
“Firstly, it is one of the city’s largest sources of sewage pollution and, secondly, its dysfunction has a direct and measurable impact on the city’s economy,” Jooste said.
“If the Northern WWTW does not operate optimally 99.99% of time, the river and sea’s delicate ecosystem will degrade and deteriorate to a state beyond recovery, our seaside tourism sector from the Golden Mile to Umhlanga Rocks will collapse, the economy along the river will cease, the annual Dusi Canoe Marathon will stop over safety concerns. Our property values will decline, investors will stay away and tens of thousands of jobs will be put at risk. The Northern WWTW dysfunction presents a clear danger to our city’s economic future.”
He said a team of engineers and volunteers assessed the Northern water treatment plant, which included a site visit, aerial photography and digital mapping. They are finalising a report that will serve as the foundation for further action.
Jooste said the NGO intends to get the report “court ready”, make it public, discuss the report’s findings with eThekwini metro, report the sewage pollution to the relevant national and provincial government authorities to prompt corrective action and, if necessary, seek a court order compelling the city to address the issues highlighted.
“The challenges we face with the ongoing sewage crisis are immense, but SORS-FS remains committed to finding solutions,” he said, adding that the NGO’s supporters had donated R100 000 to the project so far.
“Although the original plan was to hire an expert chemical engineer, local engineers with the necessary expertise have offered their services pro bono.”
He said the NGO will focus on expanding its financial resources, which may be used to acquire the expertise of additional professionals and to cover potential litigation costs.
Simkins said the project had been extremely technical but a few engineers and water specialists in the group had helped to guide the process.
“This needs to be done in a very specific way in order to stand up in court. We have asked for the advice and services of other people who have dealt with similar cases, such as the cases of cholera in Gauteng,” she said.
“This does not only related only to KwaZulu-Natal; we are facing a water crisis of epic proportions and we need to come together and hold people accountable so there is change.”
Adopt-a-River’s Simpkins said the matter could lead to criminal charges being opened against government officials. “We are also trying to engage the municipality to be forthcoming and to assist … because my wish is we don’t have to become embroiled in lengthy and extensive court drama — but this might be a pipe dream.”
She said the provision of potable water was the mandate of the water and sanitation department “and if something is not being done correctly at a municipal level they have to be held accountable”.
Camp, who has volunteered his legal services to the NGO, said it was too early to comment fully. “I understand that in due course I will become involved in assisting with drawing the papers and filing the application.”
eThekwini metro spokesperson Lindiwe Khuzwayo said the city notes the concerns of the organisation and looks forward to its final report.
Khuzwayo said the Northern treatment works was partially recommissioned in December last year after the April 2022 floods, which caused severe damage.
“Consultants were appointed and have been working on the assessment and design reports. With these now complete, we are now in the bid process to appoint a contractor to complete a significant part of the reconstruction work required to return the works to full functionality.”
She said the work could take up to three years or more to complete, depending on the availability of funding.
“There are also very long lead times in terms of the procurement and delivery of specialised equipment from various parts of the world. This could lead to the project taking longer. This is beyond the control of the municipality due to the current international climate.”
She added that funding “should be covered by insurance [and] some grant funding has also been made available”.