EPWP Save Midmar Project
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EPWP Save Midmar Project Close Out Report September 2018 Submitted to: Close Out Report for Period : October 2015 to September 2018 Contents Page ……… Project Background .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Project Scope .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Door-to-door Education ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Sewer Monitoring ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Fresh water leaks. ................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Training Days. .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Accredited Training. ............................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Friday and Saturday Kids Clubs. ........................................................................................................................................................ 16 Partnerships. ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 18 Meetings. .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 20 Drama ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Testing Howick Waste Water Treatment Works outflow ............................................................................................................... 23 Video and Film Screening ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 26 References ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 27 ….. UMDM EPWP Save Midmar Project Close out Report PROJECT BACKGROUND Water supports social, economic and ecological development (Hinrichsen and Tacio, 2002), it helps to eradicate poverty and sustain the ecosystems and their respective aquatic organisms, and hence water is life and key to health and well-being. Thus, “the access to safe drinking water is regarded as a universal and fundamental human right and the sustainable utilization and management thereof is of global importance” (Mayo, 2014). Despite the promulgation of various water quality policies and management strategies in place to ensure that water resources are well protected, water pollution still remains a major concern globally (Mwangi, 2014). Cele (2015) highlighted that unless public participation, i.e. community involvement in resources management, is strengthened at local level, countries will continue to face a bleak future with regard to water availability due to the pollution of their water resources. The uMngeni River catchment is no exception to this and is one of the most polluted river catchments in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The river is subject to multiple land use impacts from upstream to downstream due to rapid population growth coupled with the rapid establishment of human settlements that lack of proper sanitation systems agriculture and industrial activities in the catchment. The situation is exacerbated by inadequate as well as a deteriorating state of water infrastructures such as wastewater treatment works, sewer systems and pump stations. This consequently, leads to the accumulation of pollutants in water resources and ultimately to eutrophication, which is very detrimental to aquatic ecosystems and human health (CSIR, 2010). This catchment supplies a number of key dams that in turn supply major towns and cities including Howick, Pietermaritzburg, Pinetown and Durban. Midmar is an important dam in this catchment as it supplies the bulk of the water and is also used for a number of recreational events, including the largest open water swim in the world, the Midmar Mile. Mpophomeni is situated less than 4km upstream of Midmar Dam with a number of tributaries to the uMngeni River running directly through Mpophomeni and into Midmar Dam. Mpophomeni constitutes 3% of Midmar’s catchment area and yet contributes 51% of the E. coli and 15 % of the phosphorous load in Midmar Dam (SANBI, cited in Kolbe, 2014). It was within this context that the first phase of Mpophomeni Sanitation Education Project (MSEP) was established in 2011, with funding from the uMgungundlovu District Municipality (UMDM). This project represented a collaborative venture between UMDM and the Duzi uMngeni Conservation Trust (DUCT). The MSEP sought to increase education and awareness around the pollution of water, particularly as it related to the uMngeni River system. In November 2015, after the success of the MSEP project, the UMDM decided to continue in partnership with the DUCT for a period of 3 years utilising Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) funds. This phase was called the “Save Midmar” Project, and was concluded in September 2018. This report forms part of the project close out. 1 UMDM EPWP Save Midmar Project Close out Report PROJECT SCOPE The overall objective of the project is to improve the water quality of three tributaries entering Midmar Dam, and the lived environment and public health of the Mpophomeni community by reducing sewage and solid waste pollution through the implementation of an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) that will provide environmental, educational and monitoring service through the employment and capacity building of 20 Enviro-Champs, drawn from poor households, the unemployed and youth. This was to be achieved through the following: Table 1: Detailed project objectives and performance measures Activity Objective Outcome Verification Door to door visits To educate the Improved community Data and information community of action with respect to will be collected by the Mpophomeni on what sewage blockages, Enviro Champs and not to throw in the solid waste dumping collated every month. toilet, what day of the and fresh water leaks. week to put the rubbish bag out, no illegal dumping, report sewage spillages. Collect information about fresh water leaks. Training day: Every Capacity development Enviro Champs that are Regular testing and Tuesday meet at the knowledgeable about accredited training Community Hall to Ecological receive training. Infrastructure and are Computer skills, competent in self- reporting skills etc. management. Sewer monitoring: Reduced incidence of Swift response and Monthly reporting Monitor and report long term spillages attention to any sheets spilling manholes. sewage spillage War on Leaks: Follow- Reduced incidence of Millions of litres of Monthly reporting up on leaks. Fix leaks fresh water leaks fresh water saved sheets and water at people’s houses audits using plumbing materials. Friday youth clubs: Fun activities, Children in the Monthly reports by small youth club at a structured learning community that have each club local site. At the around environmental focused and structured moment there are 6 of issues, focused activities these operating, run by activities organised by 2 or 3 Enviro Champs the Enviro Champs each. close to home. 2 UMDM EPWP Save Midmar Project Close out Report Activity Objective Outcome Verification Saturday Kidz Club: All To have one club that Learning about the Monthly report children come meets together every environment, learning together for a morning second Saturday for team skills, structured of outdoor activity. recreation, learning activities River walks, games, and adventure. drama competition, soccer, environmental education, clean-up days. Attend relevant Society at large is more meetings to gain informed about the Record all meeting that information and also to activities of the Enviro were attended and the Meetings: disseminate Champs. relevance to the project. information. UEIP, The team gleans DUCT, Midlands information about Meander Education, wider issues. War Rooms, Dept Soc Increased confidence Dev, UUCMF, Happy and knowledge Earth Society. Accredited Training: Capacity development Skilled and All Enviro Champs pass Attend courses when knowledgeable Enviro- the training relevant. Champs To measure the sludge Factual evidence of the Reporting sheets content of the