KNYSNA NEWS - The effluent that is leaving the Knysna wastewater treatment works (WWTW) has improved significantly since last week, according to the municipality, who said the E. coli levels are five times lower than they were in February.

However, the estuary is still not safe for recreational purposes. 

SA National Parks (Sanparks) spokesperson Nandi Mgwadlamba confirmed that the state of the estuary remains unchanged since last week. "We've obtained additional samples which are being analysed. This information should be available to us by this Friday (tomorrow), after which we will be in a better position to give an accurate assessment of the affected parts of the estuary."

Responding to rumours of a sewage leak at the Knysna Yacht Club as contributing to the overall state of the estuary, the municipality said this is not the case, but rather that the yacht club has been identified as a possible source of the oil and grease contaminating the WWTW.

"If this is the source of the contamination then this would have contributed to the pollution of the estuary. The latest results at the inlet to the WWTW indicated that the oil and grease coming into the treatment works has stopped over the last week," it said.

Not us, says yacht club
But according to yacht club spokesperson Albert Lombaard there has been no pollution or leak emanating from the club that can be attributed to the contamination. "We are in line with what is expected from us," he reiterated. "We had a sewage pump that broke and was replaced the next day – it was nothing extraordinary and definitely cannot be the reason behind the contamination of the estuary," he said, adding that the problems currently experienced have been "coming for a long time" and that the estuary has become an increasing pollution concern over the past five years.

The municipality also said it remains unclear if one of the culprits are restaurant owners dumping vegetable oil down their drains – which in turn contaminates the WWTW.

"The accredited laboratory that is contracted to test samples for the municipality has indicated that they are unable to determine the type of oil that has caused the contamination," it stated.

Commenting on the current status of the WWTW, the municipality said the oil and grease results at the WWTW inlet are less than the allowable limit.

"An enzyme that decomposes the oil and grease has been added to the WWTW. We hope to have an improvement in the quality of the final effluent discharged from the treatment works in the next two to three weeks. Communication will be provided when the estuary is safe to swim in again."

According to Sanparks, compliant recreational points where it is still safe to swim include the Heads, Bollard Bay, The Point and Salt River. Noncompliant sites unsafe for recreational use include the area around the Ashmead Channel, Train Station and Green Hole.

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