Theewaterskloof |Bredasdorp | Napier
Year 3 • Tuesday 19 March 2013 | Tel. 028 214 1294
Nuwe Victoriasaal op koers
Bouwerk aan die Victoria-saal in Ian Toerienweg in Caledon vorder goed na talle vertragings. Die saal sal na verwagting gedurende Julie voltooi word.
FOTO: ANNETTE THERON
Water complaint to HRC ANNETTE THERON
The quality of Riviersonderend’s drinking water will soon be tested independently, after South African Human Rights Commission (HRC) representatives visited the town yesterday (Monday). The HRC personnel briefly visited Riviersonderend to speak to the local ratepayers association about a drinking water complaint lodged in December last year. Clive Sandenbergh, chairperson of the Riviersonderend Ratepayers Association, says the association lodged the complaint on the recommendation of Jaap Kelder, chairperson of the National Ratepayers Union. According to Sandenbergh, the complaint is based on allegations that sewage spills from Greyton, and animal manure from dairy farms upstream from Riviersonderend, polluted the
Sonderend River, from which water is pumped for purification into drinking water. He explained that the cleaning of settling dams brought a dark brown colour to the water days afterwards. Although he admits they are not experiencing problems at the moment, since the Theewaterskloof Municipality has been transporting sewage from Greyton to Genadendal, the association has been lobbying for drinking water from the Olifants River. Members are concerned that come the wet winter season, problems might arise again. The HRC personnel, who were en route to George to attend their road show in celebration of Human Rights Day, met with three members of the association, which represents 150 members who are all concerned about the quality of the town’s drinking water. Sandenbergh says Riviersonderend is blessed with two independent water sources: the Sonderend River, which he describes as “hea-
vily polluted” at times, and the Olifants River, which has “sweet, unpolluted” water, for which the association has been lobbying. The existing pipeline, however, is in disrepair and attempts to negotiate water from this river with the municipality have been unsuccessful. Sandenbergh is also concerned about results of testing done in the Sonderend River water at the pump station between January and October 2011. He says that because of the pollution, high dosages of chlorine have to be applied in order that the polluted water is fit for human consumption. “When one opens the tap, the water often smells of chlorine and often tastes like Jik.” He says the solution would be to fix the pipeline and use unpolluted water from the onset. “In a matter of three years the cost of the pipeline would be repaid as less chemicals will be required.” Stiffie Cronjé, media spokesperson for the
municipality, said that as soon as they receive a letter from the HRC, with a copy of the letter of complaint from Sandenbergh, they will send their response directly to them. He added that they can confirm that they are following the procedures and guidelines as prescribed in the South African National Standard SANS 241 and in terms of the Water Act to the letter. Tammy Carter, senior legal officer at the HRC, confirmed that Sandenbergh lodged a complaint on behalf of the Riviersonderend Ratepayers Association. “It is still in the investigation stage... there is unfortunately no finding at this stage.” Sandenbergh said the HRC committed themselves to forwarding the association’s complaint to the municipality, whereafter they will have 21 days in which to respond, and also to get the Water Board to test the water independently. She will then report her findings to the Ratepayers Association.