The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) is monitoring progress in efforts to curb incidents of pollution on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast following recurring sewage spillages at the Margate Pump Station that affected surrounding areas including the Margate beach.
The department was first notified of the sewage overflow from the Margate Pump Station 4A on the 28th of June 2012. A site inspection was subsequently conducted which confirmed the incident, the Ugu District Municipality was then issued with a verbal notice to put a stop to the source of the pollution.
In addition the department instructed the municipality to ensure the Margate beach was closed to the public and to immediately undertake remedial action to deal with the effects of the pollution on the environment.
In the meantime on the 3rd of September DWA received another complaint from Ezemvelo Wildlife about sewage overflow from the same pump station. The department conducted another inspection of the pump station on 5 September 2012 and confirmed the sewage overflow. Subsequently officials from the DWA regional office held an urgent meeting with the Municipality’s management and environmental authorities to discuss the cause of incident, actions to be taken and the way forward.
The department then issued the Ugu District Municipality with a written directive on 2 October 2012 instructing the Municipality to conduct an assessment of all sewage infrastructure within their area of jurisdiction, and to develop a plan of action to refurbish or construct new infrastructure where necessary in order to prevent the recurring incidents.
DWA continues to play a strong and active support role to municipalities, the department’s KwaZulu-Natal Regional Office servers on the Sector Appraisal Committee which is responsible for appraisal of business plans and technical reports from municipalities. As such a business plan for the replacement of the sewer pipeline, upgrade of the rising main, effluent main and pump station at Margate was assessed by the Sector Appraisal Committee last month (6 August 2012) and an amount of R24 562 091 has been recommended for funding of the business plan from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant.
Officials from the department will continue to work with the municipality to ensure the environment and the public is protected from pollution resulting from such infrastructure failures. The department also calls on members of the public to play an active role and to immediately report such incidents when they occur.
Media enquiries:
Mava B Scott
Cell: 082 602 9640
Department acts to stop sewage spillage on KwaZulu-Natal South Coast
