Durban — In three short videos, Adopt-a-River Eco Solutions gave insight into the state of the Umgeni River.
The videos were posted on Monday night, on Adopt-a-River’s Facebook page with the caption: “This poor uMngeni River. The sights, sounds but fortunately not smells (for you).”
Sewage, litter and muck could be seen.
The videos were taken along the river near the Connaught Bridge.
Adopt-a-River Eco Solutions director Janet Simpkins said that the presence of sewage in the Umgeni River was first reported at the beginning of July.
“We have reported it to the municipality and we believe that it is pump station-related,” Simpkins said.
Referring to the litter in the river, Simpkins said that it was litter that probably made its way through stormwater drains and into the larger stormwater system. It is what they usually see happen.
“That is why keeping the stormwater drains clear and our streets clear of any rubbish is crucial because it (litter) does make its way down into stormwater networks and will eventually make its way out to the sea,” Simpkins said.
She said that they dealt with a lot of river-related issues and they were all unacceptable.
“Anything that’s foreign that should not be coming into a natural ecosystem or waterway.”
Meanwhile, on Monday the eThekwini Municipality said that it was going to investigate the contamination of the Umgeni River.
“The city has become aware of dead marine life in the lower Umgeni River. The public is cautioned against collecting and consuming the fish as it is not fit for human consumption. The city is making arrangements for removing the fish and to mitigate any impact on the environment,” the municipality said.
Daily News