Page 21 - Landscape-Issue131

FEATURE

The Milnerton Lagoon, a polluted water body in Cape Town, empties into Table Bay. Fish die-off at the mouth of the Milnerton Lagoon.
Photo by Jean Tresfon Image: Matt Activism Capetown/Facebook

A 2022 fish die-off in the polluted Milnerton Lagoon. Photo supplied by Groundup

see that air monitoring will start so that we Restoration plan Long-term projects involve the upgrade
can actually measure it and prove that there The city aims to steadily close off pollution of the Potsdam Wastewater Treatment
is a problem,” she said, adding that the city’s sources to the lagoon, so that it can be Works, Montague Gardens Bulk Sewer
health department had been missing from dredged and the sediment and pollution Rehabilitation, Koeberg Pump Station
this problem for a long time. build-up at the bottom removed. A key and the long-term pump station and pipe
Despite pollution warnings that the component of the action plan includes replacement programme in the region.
Milnerton lagoon,estuary mouth and bio-remediation to see if this could help A key aspect of all the plans is community
beach remain closed for swimming and break down organic materials in the lagoon involvement, keeping them updated
recreation due to the pollution in the Diep environment. and providing them with a space to ask
River, residents and visitors (especially Short-term water quality and odour questions and provide insights related
children) continue to use these areas mitigation strategies include the to the lagoon pollution. It is important
during peak holiday months. following: for them to be taken on board as equal
Marx says there is currently a definite • installing waste interceptors in the partners in what the city is trying to do.
improvement in water quality and they Diep, Black and Salt Rivers as well as the
were even seeing birds and fish swimming Jakkalsvlei canal; Intervention by the Green
into the sea after the recent heavy rains, • constructing the Erica Road outfall low Scorpions
which effectively flushed out the lagoon. flow diversion; Water samples were taken at eight points
“But if they don’t find the sources of the • investigating and correcting cross along the Diep River to identify the point
pollution and stop them, then we’re going connections created by residents from at which the pollution is entering the
to end up right back where we were with stormwater and sewer pipes; river. Environmental degradation is being
a highly polluted lagoon which smells • cleaning ponds and refurbishing investigated by the Green Scorpions from
and is devoid of any life. This is why it’s settlement tanks at the Potsdam the national Department of Forestry,
so important that the city follows up and Wastewater Treatment Works; and Fisheries and the Environment, due to
finds the so-called unknown major sources • installing screens and generators at the coastal estuary falling within the
of pollution,” she said. sewer pump stations. department’s jurisdiction and mandate. n
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-08-01-city-of-cape-town-finally-launches-project-to-restore-heavily-polluted-milnerton-lagoon-environment

Landscape SA • Issue 131 2023 19