Hundreds of fish have died in the wake of millions of litres of untreated sewage having been released into the dam.
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The blame game: Harties sewage spill
Following last year’ s devastating sewage spill into Hartbeespoort Dam, various government entities have denied responsibility and it seems unlikely that anyone will be held accountable. By Martin Czernowalow
Government officials have declined to point fingers at any particular department or entity responsible for a massive sewage spill at the Northern Works Wastewater Treatment Plant, which in turn flowed into Hartbeespoort Dam in November last year.
This despite hundreds of fish dying in the wake of millions of litres of untreated sewage having been released by the treatment plant into the Jukskei River, which links up with the Crocodile River and then flows into Hartbeespoort Dam. While the extent of the damage caused to the dam was not immediately known in the aftermath of the spill, conservation experts say the most affected area is where the Crocodile River enters the Hartbeespoort Dam. This area is home to a large number of wading birds and returning migrant birds from the north.
10 Water Sewage & Effluent January / February 2017