In 2005, the Knysna Municipality initiated a Knysna Estuary Pollution Management Plan in collaboration with Eden District Municipality and SANParks. An Estuary Pollution Prevention Committee had already been established to oversee the coordination of the work carried out under the plan.
According to a report from the Knysna municipal director of planning and development, Lauren Waring, presented at the January 26 council meeting, the objectives of that plan were:
* To conduct regular water sampling at strategic points around the estuary;
* The reporting of sampling to the committees;
* Addressing the pollution problem areas;
* Conducting a schools' environmental education campaign on sanitation and estuarine health.
"Unfortuantely this initiative lost momentum due to various reasons and soon became a series of isolated initiatives," stated the report. It further explained that the "malfunction at the Knysna Waster Water Treatment Works in August 2011 prompted a need for the prioritisation of the now defunct Estuary Pollution Prevention Committee and the operations of the initial plan".
New Estuary Pollution Task Committee
According to Waring's report a new committee was formed to deal with the same issues, "albeit with more concerted effort".
Stuart Scott International Consulting Engineers (SSI) was approached to provide council with a strategic plant with remedial recommendations. Waring explained that more than forty new sampling points were identified within the estuary, and the rest within the areas that might be possible sources of pollution in the estuary. "This exercise will be able to identify the sources and areas of estuary pollution. SSI's plan will include clear time-frames and actual costs in the resolution of this problem," explained Waring.
Professor Brian Allanson (of Allanson Associates cc, specialists in aquatic systems), explained that water pollution was a historical problem faced by many towns, especially those situated on estuaries or other bodies of water. "As the greater part of Knysna remains un-sewered, material from the surrounding high-lying areas enters the natural catchments and drainage areas which lead into the Knysna basin and, eventually, the estuary," explained Prof. Allanson.
To initiate this study, council approved an amount of R250 000 with further funding being requested once the recommendations of the study have been received. "External funding will also be sought once the extent of the action and required finances are determined."
"The SSI team includes a GIS specialist, a technician, a project manager, project principal and an estuarine specialist and a sampling team," said Waring. "This team will work closely with the Estuary Pollution Task Team (EPTT), consisting of delegates from Knysna Municipality, Eden District Municipality and SANParks. This task team is a permanent feature that also reports to the Department of Water Affairs and the Knysna Water Forum."
Wolmarans said, "We realise that we are dealing with a historical problem which will only worsen if we do nothing."
Wolmarans concluded. "Unfortunately this problem has been intensifying for decades, but we have to commit to saving that which makes Knysna special - our beautiful natural playground. Now we have a set plan to accomplish this task."
Estuary pollution levels as at January 23
The following Knysna areas exceed water pollution levels acceptable for recreational levels (as recorded on the Knysna Municipality's website).
- Train Station culvert (previously known as the Oyster Catcher culvert) - >2419 E.Coli/100ml;
- Queen Street culvert - > 2419 E.Coli / 100ml;
- Bigai Stream - 649 E.Coli/100ml;
- Ashmead channel - 457 E.Coli/100ml;
- Bongani Stream - 525 E.Coli/100ml;
- Long Street culvert - 571 E.Coli/100ml.
