eThekwini Municipality councillors on Thursday gave their backing to the adoption of the Wastewater Environmental Management Policy that was developed in response to the June 2021 auditor-general’s report.
The City’s human settlements and infrastructure (HSI) committee sought the adoption of the policy, which provides guidelines for the Water and Sanitation Unit and the municipality to prevent environmental risks related to wastewater and manage related incidents in accordance with environment legislation.
Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke’s 2021/22 report said environmental inspections of wastewater treatment plants reported adverse findings at 14 of the 16 selected municipalities in the province, including two municipalities with disclaimed audit opinions.
The inspections also confirmed that neglected municipal infrastructure and ineffective environmental management polluted water sources, including underground water, and revealed an unacceptable state of wastewater treatment works.
The auditor-general’s office said that by February last year, they had issued notifications to various municipal managers of 24 material irregularities related to their wastewater treatment plants.
“To resolve these material irregularities, municipalities will need to stop the pollution, repair or rebuild the plants, put measures in place to ensure the infrastructure is maintained, and compensate the people affected by the pollution where applicable,” it said.
The HSI committee on Thursday, at a full council meeting, said the implementation of the policy would guide the procedures of the Water and Sanitation Unit towards safeguarding precious water sources and minimising environmental impacts through the effective management of wastewater in eThekwini Municipality.
It recommended that the council approve the policy to ensure efficient and effective identification and management of environmental risks relating to wastewater generation, reticulation, treatment and discharge within the municipality.
The committee said the policy would prevent pollution, contamination and spillage incidents arising from wastewater and/or its by-products and its resultant socio-economic, environment and public health impact by ensuring effective implementation of management systems in place.
The committee recommended that the policy would censure management and mitigate all wastewater-related incidents as well as ensure compliance with City by-laws and government legislation.
The DA, IFP and ANC all supported the adoption of the policy.
Councillor Roy Petros Mbonambi said the IFP supported the policy because it would help get clean water to people.
“Many areas get unclean water, which results in our people getting sick. As council it would be good if we support this item because it is important that we provide our people with clean water, as we promised,” he said.
ANC councillor Vincent Kungu said the auditor-general stated that the unit must have a policy in place and the party supports its formulation.
“It is going to prevent environmental risk related to wastewater and will guide the procedures of the Water and Sanitation Unit. It will safeguard precious water sources and minimise environmental impact,” he said.
Councillor Ernest Smith said while the DA supported the adoption of the policy, the municipality needed to ensure that it was implemented.
He said the policy should safeguard the environment and ensure sustainability, health and enhancement of natural resources in all regions.
Smith said the continual pressure from a growing population, urbanisation and industrialisation required improved infrastructure and management systems within the metro.
He said the department needed to ensure officials were held accountable for environmental violations, contamination and destruction of ecosystems.
The Mercury