Local company cleared of pollution allegations
The Ekurhulen municipality has this week cleared a local company of allegations that it polluted the Witfield Dam, causing a mass death among the fish population in the dam.
The fish were found dead on the weekend of Sunday, November 17.
Residents recently accused the company (name known to the Advertiser) of discharging chemicals into the dam, causing severe pollution to the dam water.
According to the metro’s spokesperson, Mandlakazi Mpahlwa-Sigcawu, the metro has concluded the investigation into the company, alleged to have committed the crime.
The investigation did not uncover evidence of waste water or chemical being spilled over the dam.
“This company was investigated. They have a sump where washing takes place and the sump is connected to the effluent plant that is monitored monthly by the metro, and is linked to the sewer line, therefore, there was no evidence that could link them to the incident,” explains Mpahlwa-Sigcawu.
Mpahlwa-Sigcawu adds that the upstream of the dam was also investigated and the samples were taken. The results showed no evidence of pollution.
Residents have, however, insisted that the mass death among the fish population in the dam was due to a chemical spillage.
When the Advertiser visited the area on Monday afternoon, the dead fish were still floating on the water.
According to a concerned citizen, Dawn Stephens, this is not the first fish kill to happen in the dam.
“The previous fish kill was due to sewage spill,” says Stephens.
According to the metro, a water quality official took samples after the incident, as per their monthly sampling schedule, and according to the official there was no visible pollution at the sampling point at the inlet and the outlet of the dam.
The metro, however, investigated the claims further by conducting an inspection around the dam.
They took samples and investigated the origination of any pollution.
