High levels of E. coli in water from Milnerton waste plant, say activists
But City of Cape Town says the tests used by activists are not an accurate reflection
New water tests conducted by activists from the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse show that Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works in Milnerton is discharging effluent with high levels of E.coli. This is in direct contradiction to tests done by the City of Cape Town. Archive photo: Steve Kretzmann
- Tests by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) show the Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works in Milnerton is discharging effluent with high levels of E.coli.
- The organisation says immediate intervention is needed.
- The results contradicted the City of Cape Townâs own assessment which it says showed an improvement.
- The City disputed the accuracy of OUTAâs tests.
New water tests conducted by activists at the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) show that the Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works in Milnerton is discharging effluent with high levels of E. coli. This is in direct contradiction to tests done by the City of Cape Town.
In a recent press statement, OUTA questioned the Cityâs ability to manage the quality of effluent discharged from Potsdam. In February, the Western Cape Government ordered the City to present plans to deal with the unacceptable levels of pollution.
On 18 November, OUTAâs test revealed that an âunofficialâ discharge point at Potsdam was discharging effluent with an E. coli level of 8.4 million units per 100ml, up from 6,500 units per 100ml on 17 September. The Department of Water and Sanitationâs prescribed limit of E.Coli in wastewater discharged into water resources is 1,000 units per 100ml.
OUTA also tested the E. coli count upstream from Potsdam and found only 108 units per 100ml, whereas samples taken below the treatment plant recorded 1.68 million units per 100ml.
The E. coli count at the Milnerton Lagoon Club was at 10,100 units per 100ml, OUTA said.
In a statement on 6 November the City said Potsdam was âshowing a remarkable turnaroundâ since April and that âeffluent samples [are] showing E. coli readings well within regulatory targetsâ.
According to OUTA, the water test results by the City were done at official discharge points with treated effluent, while âunofficialâ discharge points âcontinue to pollute the environmentâ.
Xanthea Limberg, the Cityâs Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, disputed this and said that there were âno unofficial discharge points at Potsdamâ. Limberg said that OUTAâs sample was taken at a reed bed wall adjacent to the plant that had recently collapsed, which is not part of Potsdam operations.
âThe reed bed was retaining stormwater which was contaminated by sewer overflows in the area,â said Limberg. This stormwater, coming from Dunoon, is extremely polluted due to illegal dumping, she said.
Limberg said that OUTAâs water test did not accurately reflect the final effluent quality at Potsdam.
Andrea Korff, Legal Project Manager at OUTA, said that the point at which the test was done was just one of many they monitor. âThis specific sampling site was brought under the Cityâs attention and management of Potsdam on numerous occasions already,â she said.
A R2.2 billion upgrade at Potsdam is due to be finished by 2025, according to the City.
But Korff said immediate intervention was needed, otherwise the whole Diep River ecosystem would deteriorate.
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