Residents of Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo say they are worried that their lives will be at risk if the local municipality does not prevent effluent from the sewerage plant spilling into the nearby Olifants’ River.
The river feeds into the main storage dam that supplies the Ostrich town with drinking water.
The local authority says it has investigated the matter and denies that raw sewage is being discharged into the river.
The municipality, however, acknowledges that some 112 restaurants in the town, including two abattoirs, are contributing to the poor condition of the sewage works. Substances such as oils, fats and blood presumably overburden the system.
The Oudtshoorn Municipality in the Little Karoo has called on local businesses to stop channeling their waste through the town’s sewage works.
Acting Director for Technical Services, Chris Koch says the food outlets, including guesthouses, have been told to find alternative ways of discharging materials, substances and waste.
“There are two big abattoirs in Oudtshoorn with lots of fats and oil that is dispersed to the works, but also 112 is a total number of guest houses which all have restaurants catering but also the restaurants in town discharge all the fats and oil,” says Koch.
SABC
