The water issues in Pietermaritzburg have largely been due to the continual breakages and leakages of pipes, illegal dumpsites at rivers and sewage overflow
Concerned over the declining quality of water in the city, Varsity College Pietermaritzburg hosted several environmental experts at the Ripples of Change conference aimed at implementing change. Various stakeholders such as teachers, medical personnel, environmental specialists and university students gathered to understand the extent of the issue and to suggest solutions.
The success of the meeting led to parties agreeing to creating a data repository which would be available to the public. The combined data system will keep the public informed on how to test water quality, who to report to about sewage overflows and dumpsites, and how citizens can become more involved.
The water issues in Pietermaritzburg have largely been due to the continual breakages and leakages of pipes, illegal dumpsites at rivers and sewage overflow. These issues have collectively led to the decline in water quality and security in the city. “We have been seeing a decline in Pietermaritzburg’s water quality,” said manager of catchment management at uMgeni-uThukela Water, Futhi Vilakazi. “Water is no longer available immediately and we have to take it from the Mooi River.”
Vilakazi added that the rivers around the city were predominantly rated as “unsatisfactory.” “Due to this, water treatment has become more costly. Speakers Matt Burnett and Lethu Mahlaba, project manager at Duzi-uMngeni Conservation Trust (Duct), joined Vilakazi in addressing the matter. According to Burnett, a post-doctoral fellow from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, an indicator species, a fish known as the redtail barb, was now listed as a critical species, suggesting the decline in water quality. In his studies, Burnett and his team have been trying to find the fish but have not been successful.
A running theme through the conference was “citizen science”. Even though there are various definitions to the term, Tanisha Curtis from GroundTruth said: “Citizen science for me is getting people involved in the scientific process — hypothesis, data collection, etc,” she said. “It’s research with citizens, giving them the skills to take part.” GroundTruth aims to provide simple training to citizens in order for them to monitor rivers and produce information which in turn provides instant action.
Lethu Mahlaba, project manager at Duzi-uMngeni Conservation Trust (Duct), said through their “Enviro Champs” programme youth are given the opportunity to learn the basic skills to spot illegal dumpsites and to fix domestic leaks. Through this education, they learn about the benefits of water security and experience the change, Mahlaba said.
The speakers at the event also highlighted the importance of shared ownership and responsibility. “It’s our water,” said Burnett. “We must take ownership and not expect someone else to fix the problem.” Mahlaba added that education was key as anyone was capable of destroying the ecosystem unknowingly.
Article by Kayla Shaw, The Witness, 23/03/2024