KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Municipal Technical Department’s engineers became aware of a problem within their Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) on 8 February 2019 and immediately informed the Garden Route District Municipality.

A chemical contamination within the tanks had caused bacterial levels to fluctuate. 

“Once the problem was identified the Knysna Municipality, joined by Garden Route District and a Consultant, worked tirelessly to correct the bacteria levels to prevent contamination of the Knysna Estuary and to find the source of the harmful substance that resulted in the natural bacteria in our tanks dying off in the first place,” said Technical Services Director, Pavir Hariparsad.

Once the imbalance was noted, E.coli readings were taken immediately.

“We are working together with SANParks and Garden Route District Municipality to ensure that the levels within estuary returns to normal”, said Hariparsad.

Acknowledging the seriousness of this spill, Hariparsad explained that the volume of water that flushes the estuary with the changing tides will ensure that the levels will return to within the normal range very quickly. “Our estuary is possibly the most pristine in the country and I give you my assurance that we are doing everything in our power to ensure its wellbeing.

In closing he added: “In the meantime we continue to monitor the situation along with our partners, the Garden Route District Municipality Department Health, and SANParks. Rest assured that, not only have we done all in our power to pinpoint the source of the contamination, but are working tirelessly on finding ways to prevent future pollution of the estuary in the first place.”

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