Page 14 - Waterfall City Issue 6 June 2025

Waterfall City News

dumped waste products and silted
debris, amounting to 20 cubic metres
of waste weighing around two tons, all
of which was responsibly removed.

Equally important was the concerted
effort to clear a host of alien and
invasive plants along the riverbank,
where white poplar and giant reeds
were by far the most prevalent. These
intruders detract from what is already
a very degraded system, and their
removal and responsible disposal, in
partnership with Life Green Group for
composting, is a crucial step towards
potential future eradication.

The success of the day was amplified Water quality testing strips. Mark McClue, the CEO and co-founder of ARMOUR and
by key collaborations. Like last Deloitte Managing Director, Gregory Rammego.
year, Mark McClue, the CEO and Kyle Odgers from Kleenhealth gave database to assist tracking and lobbying
co-founder of ARMOUR (Action for insight into ‘Nanobubbles’ as an to address the issues.
Responsible Management of OUR example of a nature-based approach
Rivers) provided ‘A Voice 4 Water’, using technology to address pollution Members of The Alex Water Warriors
sharing essential knowledge on by restoring water resilience. As a also joined in the day as part of the
river systems, the causes and effects demonstration, he undertook water community-led programme founded
of pollution and their cooperative quality tests with the volunteering with ARMOUR, to enable a replicable
stance on water remediation being an team, introducing them to iLab field grassroots initiative from Alexandra to
interface between civil society and the kits. Arranged by ARMOUR from provide invaluable local knowledge,
institutions accountable for responsible WaterCAN, these kits are designed for as well as enthusiastic on-the-ground
management of water resources. non-scientific field operatives to do experience. As a leading example of
McClue thanked Plastics SA for their a basic screening of water quality, to awareness and behavioural change in
sponsorship of the recycled bags and support in illustrating the problem of becoming better stewards of how we
Deloitte for this opportunity, noting contaminated water. The results showed manage waste as a society, McClue and
“initiatives like this go beyond the high levels of E.Coli, phosphates and Mpho from The Alex Water Warriors,
benefits of the one-day volunteering, chlorine, indicating a result of private explained how there are now over 2,500
as the staff can take this awareness and sector wastewater running into the water warriors operating three times
experience into their personal lives storm water system, from for example, a week in 15 areas through the river
and see how their services assist clients pools, washing cars or from leaks within system upstream in Alexandra. This
in relevant Environment, Social and JHB water infrastructure. These results includes a recycling station established
Governance spaces.” have been uploaded to the regional as part of processing over 3 million

12 Waterfall City Issue 6 2025