KNYSNA NEWS - Last minute fears of E.coli contamination in the Knysna Estuary called for the sudden change of venue for the Oakhill Waterfront Chukka Festival's second leg, which took place from February 27 to March 1.
The event had to be moved to the bay area between Quay Four and the SANParks offices.
But more important than the venue having to move is the cause of the water pollution - restaurants who discard fat down their drains and cause fat traps in the sewerage pipes, leading to the system becoming blocked and spilling sewage and causing pollution.
Knysna municipal workers investigated the site and found that fat traps in a pipe, some 100m from where the Chukka event was due to be held, led to a blockage and ultimately caused the leak into the estuary.
Due caution was used to prevent a potential health risk and the event was moved to a safe site, suggested by SANParks.
Mgwadlamba said that the alternative venue was ideal as it was in a protected bay, where there is more tidal flow, sufficient parking space and also more land for spectators.
She indicated that SANParks and Eden District Municipality would take this matter up with the Knysna Municipality at their next meeting with the Action Pollution Committee.
Knysna Acting Municipal Manager Grant Easton said they had responded before the event was due to start. " We received the call on Thursday morning and technical services officials went to the site and opened two manholes closest to the area. It was established that the Waterfront sewer pump station at the entrance of the Waterfront was overflowing. Some of this sewerage ended up in the estuary."
Easton said the mechanical and electrical contractor who is responsible for the proper functioning of the pump stations was called to the site and found that the floats which switches on the pumps did not function due to a fat build-up on them. The sewerage therefore built up in the pump and overflowed.
Eden District Municipality’s Health Department was also on site, said Easton.
"The problem with the fat and the resulting consequences was shown to them. The only conclusion that could be made was that the restaurants at the Waterfront either do not have fat traps or if they do it is not properly maintained.
"The municipality is monitoring the site to ensure this incident does not happen again. We will ensure that the system is properly maintained. As back up to the current float system we will install an ultrasonic control system. Furthermore, we will switch over from the float system to a level sensor system in the near future," assured Easton.
He said that fat was a general problem at all sewer pump stations which service restaurants.
"Other examples of these are the Yacht Club, Angling Club, Knysna Quays and Thesen Island pump stations. We spend lots of time and resources cleaning these pump stations. In addition, we experience problems with fat in our sewer lines in other restaurants in town, especially the sewer line in Nelson Street which services two big supermarkets and restaurants in that area. There is a high possibility that restaurants are not maintaining fat traps," he said.
Easton said that the municipality was looking into having an awareness campaign to educate residents, restaurants and organisations around the town of Knysna on waste management.
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