Ermelo wastewater plant linked to sewage pollution, DWS says

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has expressed concern over the discharge of raw sewage from the Ermelo Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) directly into water resources due to inadequate maintenance and poor operations. An oversight visit by DWS officials, including Deputy Minister Dr Jack Bloom, District Municipality Mayor Walter Mngomezulu, and Msukaligwa Local Municipality Mayor Mapulane Nkosi, was conducted to assess the water pollution caused by the plant.

The pollution has adversely impacted local water resources, including the Pet Dam, Brummer Dam, Vaal River Catchment, and Nels River.

Municipality officials were directed to take necessary measures to prevent water pollution, leading to criminal charges against the municipality. The High Court found the municipality guilty of water pollution and ordered it to take corrective steps to halt the discharge of poor-quality effluent, thus preventing further contamination of water resources.

In August 2025, Mayor Nkosi officially transferred the Ermelo Wastewater Treatment Works to a contractor for upgrading the plant and introducing a new bulk sewer pipeline installation for Ermelo Ext 44 – Phase 1. The project aims to expand the plant's capacity from 9 megalitres per day to 33 megalitres per day, catering to the growing population of Msukaligwa.