Page 20 - Landscape-Issue131

FEATURE

MILNERTON LAGOON

RESTORATION PROJECT

The City of Cape Town is finally launching a rehabilitation project to address the
Milnerton Lagoon’s long-standing pollution issues. Its polluted waterways have

experienced multiple fish die-offs, sewage spills, a persistent stench in the area and
health risks affecting residents. This article, by Kristin Engel, first appeared in Daily
Maverick, and has been reproduced here with their permission.

hort, medium and long-term quality treatment standards. The upgrade Health concerns
solutions have been proposed and will double the plant capacity of treated Besides discomfort from the stench
Sin the first instance, these are aimed wastewater from 47 million litres to 100 wafting through the area, residents
at improving lagoon water quality and million litres. The aim is to finalise the also expressed concern that the odour
odour, including options to potentially upgrade by 2027, with an operational trial contained highly toxic hydrogen sulphide
aerate or bio-remediate the lagoon. starting in 2026. (H2S) and said that they were experiencing
Medium and long-term solutions address Potsdam upgrades have been delayed health impacts in the form of recurring
the restoration of the lagoon and cutting for more than ten years due to appeals by eye and skin irritations, frequent sinusitis
off the sources of the pollution. This is bidders. These were dismissed earlier this and asthma flare-ups. At a stakeholder
after years of complaints over lack of year and allowed construction of the civil engagement meeting, a senior air quality
transparency on water testing, appeals works to finally begin. specialist stated that the current levels of
by residents for urgent assistance, and However, this is just one source of H2S in ambient air indicated that there was
directives ordering the city to take action pollution affecting the lagoon. There are a need for long-term air quality monitoring
to contain pollution at the lagoon, where many others, including contaminated in the area to determine seasonal ambient
raw sewage and masses of litter sometimes stormwater flow near Milnerton High levels of H2S.
flowed. School, which was pumped into the sewer Caroline Marx, director of an NPO called
system. As rehabilitation gets underway, Rethink the Stink, and environmental head
Potsdam Wastewater Treatment other unknown sources of pollution may be of Milnerton Central Residents Association,
Works discovered. has been extensively involved in holding the
The lagoon’s ecological degradation is due For years, the pollution has been harming city accountable for its inaction regarding
to multiple pollution sources, but has been not only the lagoon environment, but the Milnerton Lagoon. She has worked
largely affected by years of non-compliant residents as well. In March 2022, a massive closely with the city to ensure transparency
discharges from the Potsdam Wastewater fish die-off was observed at the mouth with residents, especially when it comes
Treatment Works. On 2 August, Mayor of the lagoon, where about 500 fish (Liza to discrepancies in water testing. “I’m very
Geordin Hill-Lewis officially opened the richardsoni) had washed up. In October pleased to hear that the city has started
construction upgrade of the wastewater that year, amid the nauseating stench at air quality monitoring because the smells
treatment works, which will result in the Milnerton Lagoon, another round of around the lagoon are caused by toxic
better treatment of effluent from homes, dead fish, unable to survive the toxic water, gases such as methane and H2S, which
businesses and industry to ensure high began washing up again. have health impacts. It is encouraging to

Ongoing pollution into the Milnerton Lagoon and the Diep River has
made the lagoon and surrounding environment effectively dead, largely
as a result of non-compliant discharges from the Potsdam Wastewater
Treatment Works. Photo by Kristin Engel.

18 Landscape SA • Issue 131 2023