Water Lettuce
latest news & developments
Invasive weeds cleared from Vaal River through community-government collaboration
This was achieved through a partnership involving the Vaal community, Rand Water, Rhodes University’s Centre for Biological Control, the water and sanitation department and the…
Powerful insect army reduces water hyacinth on Hartbeespoort Dam to 2.5%
The tiny planthoppers are biological control agents and natural enemies of the world’s worst aquatic weed
State sets up task team to advise on water lettuce clogging Vaal River
The team ‘has to be in it for the long haul’ and the sewage in the water, which feeds the alien aquatic plants, must be dealt with
Spraying toxic herbicide on Vaal River to rid it of water lettuce ‘is criminal’
Water specialists have said the use of glyphosate is in contravention of the National Water Act and is a risk for humans and toxic for aquatic life
Vaal River residents say water lettuce is ‘national crisis’
If allowed to pass the Vaal River Barrage, the plant has access to a journey of about 1 000km of the middle and lower Vaal river, the Bloemhof Dam and then into the Orange river
Sewage crisis means Vaal water lettuce is here to stay
Desperate residents have removed the alien plant by hand, but a scientist says this is like treating a brain tumour with Panado