A manhole next to the R59 in Parys is overflowing with raw sewage which eventually ends up in the Vaal River.

Johan Smit reported the manhole on Mobilitate earlier in the week and said the raw sewage flows into a stream that connects with the Vaal River.

According to Johan, who is also the chairperson of the SAVE Parys subcommittee, this is only the tip of the iceberg.

SAVE is an environmental action group that focusses on the pollution of the Vaal River. In 2010 the Parys subcommittee got an interdict against the Ngwathe municipality for the disposal of sub-standard and unprocessed sewage in the Vaal River, coming from the Parys sewage plant.

“The court gave the Ngwathe municipality 30 days to improve the situation. At that stage SAVE felt that 30 days were not enough and gave them more time. Unfortunately 30 days became six months and six months became one year. It is now two years and nothing has happened,” said Johan.

He said promises were made that the funds would be made available to fix the sewage plant but nothing has come of it.

“There have been so many attempts by residents to fix certain processes within the sewage plant that are not functioning properly. I have bought fan belts because we were told that the pumps could not run.”

According to Johan the bottom line is that the capacity of the sewage plant is becoming smaller and smaller and an upgrade is urgently needed.

“Of course the day to day maintenance is also not happening and that has a negative impact on the processing capability of the plant.”

SAVE is now attempting to get a clear understanding from the Ngwathe municipality about the current state of affairs. This would determine what action should be taken next.

Source: news24