South Africa: Despite Sewerage Upgrades, Mogale City Still Polluting Cradle of Mankind
[GroundUp] Tests detect high E. coli levels in water flowing from the Percy Stewart treatment plant into the Blougat Spruit
Despite significant upgrades, the Mogale City wastewater treatment plant continues to pollute the Blougat Spruit, a site considered the Cradle of Mankind. Tests reveal high levels of E. coli in the water, posing serious health risks to farmers using the river for irrigation and threatening the local ecosystem. The Percy Stewart Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) has been releasing raw and poorly processed sewage into the Blougat Spruit for years, contributing to the contamination.
The plant was recently refurbished, but there are still concerns about the effectiveness of the disinfection system. The municipality has been working to address the issues, but progress has been hindered by poor maintenance, loss of technical skills, and theft and vandalism. The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site Association's Trevor Brough emphasizes that the continued pollution is a disaster for regional ecosystems and poses a significant food safety risk.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
