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The people of the Makana municipality are facing a dire health crisis due to the municipality’s inability to deal with raw sewage flowing into local rivers and streams.

Tests have revealed highly dangerous E.coli counts in certain areas of local rivers, and I will now write to the Green Scorpions to request immediate intervention.

The DA recently conducted oversight inspections at seven sites along the Kowie, Blaauwkrantz and Mtayane rivers to ascertain contamination levels. We then took samples and sent those off to Rhodes University in Makhanda to be examined by an independent expert.

The testing revealed that E.coli counts that pose a definite danger to the health of residents were found at five of the seven sites. E.coli levels should be close to zero - anything above 100 colony-forming units (CFU) per 100 ml is dangerous to humans and animals alike.

At the five contaminated sites, E.coli counts of 280, 1000, 1800 and 30 000 CFU were found. This is an environmental and economic catastrophe waiting to happen. The discharge of sewage into rivers could result in the water becoming so contaminated that it will no longer be fit for use as an irrigation source for farmers.

The discharge of raw sewage into a natural water resource is also illegal in terms of the Constitution, the National Environmental Management Act No. 107 of 1998 and the National Water Act No. 36 of 1998.

These sewage spillages into our rivers are the direct result of the Belmont Valley Water Treatment Works being unable to cope with the sheer volume of sewage flowing through it. Belmont Valley requires a huge refurbishment, and although there are plans for some work to be done, it falls far short of what is needed to make Belmont Valley compliant.

This uncaring and irresponsible municipality must be brought to book for endangering the livelihood and health of its residents.

Issued by Cllr Cary Clark - DA Makana Caucus