Water Minister meeting with municipalities polluting the Vaal River

VANDERBIJLPARK - The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, is scheduled to meet in Vanderbijlpark today with Gauteng and Free State municipalities that discharge waste water into the Vaal River up to the Vaal Barrage. This is part of efforts to address water quality and invasive alien aquatic species in the Vaal River to ensure healthy rivers. The Upper Vaal River, particularly in the Vaal River Barrage has been experiencing high growth levels of invasive plants because of poor water quality emanating from poorly treated or raw sewerage discharge into the basin. The Green Drop Progress Assessment Report indicates an increased risk in the performance of municipal wastewater treatment systems and poor performance in terms of effluent quality. As a result, waste water treatment works of Metsimaholo, Merafong, Rand West, Mafube, Ngwathe Local Municipalities were found to be in critical state, while Emfuleni Local Municipality was found to be poor and City of Johannesburg, Lesedi and Midvaal Local Municipalities were found to be average. These municipalities are expected to present their plans to stop discharging waste water into the Vaal River.

PHOTO: (Twitter)