MINUTES WILGE RIVER FORUM Tuesday 14 November 2017 Venue : Thabo Mofutsanyane District Offices: QwaQwa 10:00 – 13:00 No Item Action 1. WELCOME R Hariram The Chair welcomed all attendees. 2. INTRODUCTION OF ATTENDEES All attendees introduced themselves. 3. APOLOGIES Lawrence Ramulelwa-Dihlabeng Local Municipality Kagiso Molelekwa- Nketoana Local Municipality Thyre Pather-Vaal CMA Sekhobo Teboho-Municipal Health Services 4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Minutes were adopted as a true reflection of the previous discussion with the following corrections: -Item 7.2 bullet-15 Franfort S/W was corrected to Frankfort S/W. -Item 7.3 Phather was corrected to Pather. 5. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES J Mofokeng indicated that on Item 7.3, an issue with Frankfort landfill is still ongoing even though Mafube municipality was informed of possible pollution. J Mofokeng indicated that on item 10, DWS has supported Mafube municipality and manhole overflows were rectified. 6. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA 6.1 Water week celebration 6.2 National Water and Sanitation Master Plan 7. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSIONS WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 7.1 RAND WATER Rand Water presented water quality results for the period of 1 July to 30 September 2017: WLA (Lesotho highland Ash River Outfall) -there was non- compliance of nitrate for this quarter. WLB (Wilge Liebenbergsvlei @ Bethlehem) – there was an improvement of ammonia for this quarter. WJ (Jordaanspruit below Bethlehem) – there was non-compliance of Page | 1 ammonia, fluoride, phosphate and alkalinity due to the discharge of poor quality from sewage works upstream. WLBB (Wilge River below Bethlehem) –there was non-compliance of nitrates and fluoride for this quarter. WLR (Wilge River @ Reitz) – there was improvement of ammonia for this quarter. WL (Liebenbergsvlei River between Tweeling & Frankfort) –there was non-compliance of nitrates for this quarter. EQQ (Elands River below QwaQwa)–there was non-compliance of ammonia, chloride, fluoride, sulphates and nitrate for this quarter due to upstream sewage works. WE (Elands River @ Aberfeldy)–there was non-compliance of ammonia and nitrate for this quarter. Sterk (Sterkfontein Dam) – there was non-compliance of fluoride for this quarter. WN (Nuwejaarspruit d/s of Sterkfontein Dam) - there was non- compliance of fluoride for this quarter. WAH (Wilge above Harrismith) – there was non-compliance of fluoride, nitrate and elevation of sulphate for this quarter. WH (Wilge River below Harrismith) – there was non-compliance of ammonia, alkalinity, phosphate, nitrate and fluoride for this quarter. MR (Meul River downstream of Ribbokspruit) – the point was monitored once for this quarter and there was non-compliance of chloride, sulphate, phosphate, nitrate, chemical oxygen demand and fluoride. WM (Mollen River @ Letuka) – the point was monitored once for this quarter and there was non-compliance of fluoride. WMW (Wilge Meul @ Waaiwater) – most of variables were complying for this quarter. WC (Cornelies River below Warden) – the point was monitored once due to low flows for this quarter and there was non-compliance of fluoride. WAF (Wilge above Frankfort) – there was non-compliance of fluoride, nitrate and elevation of COD for this quarter. WF (Wilge River @ Frankfort) – there was non-compliance of nitrate and e.coli for this quarter due to the sewage works upstream. Bethlehem Sewage Works (S/W) - there was non-compliance of e.coli and ammonia for this quarter. Harrismith S/W- there was non-compliance of e.coli, COD and ammonia for this quarter due to malfunction of the sewage works. QwaQwa S/W- there was non-compliance of ammonia this quarter. Tshiame S/W- there was non-compliance of e.coli for this quarter. 7.2 VAAL RIVER CMA The water quality results were presented for the period of 1 July to 30 September 2017: WF (Wilge River @ Frankfort) -there was improvement of nitrate and faecal coliform. WLA (Lesotho highland Ash River Outfall) -there was non- Page | 2 compliance of nitrate for this quarter. EQQ (Elands River below QwaQwa) - there was non-compliance of chloride, ammonia, COD and faecal coliform due to the sewage works upstream. WLS (Saulspoort Dam on Liebenbergsvleiriver near Dam wall) –most of variables were acceptable for this quarter. WLB (Loch Athlone Dam on Jordaan near Dam wall) - most of variables were acceptable accept Electrical Conductivity (EC) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) for this quarter. Sterk (Sterkfontein Dam) – all variables were acceptable for this quarter. WN (Nuwejaarspruit d/s of Sterkfontein Dam) – all variables were acceptable for this quarter. WH (Wilge River below Harrismith) – most of variables were acceptable accept chloride. Bethlehem Sewage Works (S/W) - there was non-compliance of ammonia, phosphate, e.coli and COD for this quarter due to malfunction of the sewage works. Harrismith S/W- there was non-compliance of ammonia, phosphate, e.coli and COD for this quarter due to malfunction of sewage works. QwaQwa S/W- there was non-compliance of ammonia, nitrate and COD for this quarter. Tshiame S/W- there was non-compliance of ammonia, nitrate, phosphate and e.coli for this quarter. Reitz S/W- there was non-compliance of EC, ammonia, nitrate, e.coli and phosphate due to malfunction of the sewage works for this quarter. Kestel S/W- there was non-compliance of ammonia, phosphate, COD and e.coli for this quarter. Franfort S/W- only one sample was monitored for this quarter due to the irrigation with the effluent from the farmer, but the data has shown non-compliance of ammonia and phosphate. Warden S/W- no flow at the works due to the ponds and sumps J Mofokeng leaking. DWS will be conducting site inspection tomorrow at the sewage works to assess the problems and report back in the next forum meeting. Tweeling oxidation ponds- only one sample was monitored for this quarter due to access problems, but the data has shown compliance. R Shibambo asked if there is any intervention from Vaal CMA to ensure compliance in terms of effluent discharge from Warden Sewage Works. J Mofokeng indicated that there is a site inspection tomorrow with DWS Head Office to check all the problems at the works. L Nqelenga indicated that Head Office-CME should also be involved in this matter of Warden sewage works. 7.3 Solid Waste Management J Mofokeng gave feedback on behalf of T Pather and indicated that there was no water pollution from any landfill site in the catchment. Page | 3 A master plan will be proposed by end of next year by Provincial MEC to good performance on from the landfill sites. Quarterly meeting with provincial Environmental Affairs is on-going with also authorities involved with the progress monitoring report of all landfill sites. J Mofokeng further indicated that all the landfill sites in the catchment are authorised but they are not complying with authorisation conditions. 7.4 Green Drop System N Ketelo indicated that municipalities are not downloading data under the system. N Ketelo also indicated that no reasons were communicated from municipalities on challenges of downloading data under the system. J Van Wyk asked about mechanism that can be used to ensure that municipalities are submitting data to the Department. N Ketelo/J Mofokeng indicated that there is a condition in the water use licence stipulating that municipality must submit water quality data to the Department. N Ketelo further indicated that municipalities must take responsibility before the Department can excise its mandate. 8. CATCHMENT ACTIVITIES – FEEDBACK FROM STAKEHOLDERS 8.1 PHUMELELA MUNICIPALITY No representative attended. 8.2 NKETOANA MUNICIPALITY Apology from municipality. 8.3 DIHLABENG MUNICIPALITY Apology from municipality. 8.4 MAFUBE MUNICIPALITY No representative attended. 8.5 THABO MOFUTSANYANE T Motaung gave a presentation on the hot spots areas at MAP municipality. T Motaung indicated that one of the issues at MAP is overflow of manholes. He also mentioned that blockages of pump stations are alarming and MAP is not reporting the incidents. P Beukes also eluded that pumps station at Harrismith sewage works is overflowing and MAP is not doing anything. R Hariram indicated that blockages are also caused by communities because they are disposing debris into the system. R Hariram also suggested that both municipality and the district should both come up with educational programs to educate the community on water and sanitation issues. R Shibambo asked whether the district is supporting local municipality. Page | 4 T Mphuthi indicated that MAP is in the process of sourcing external service provider to assist the municipality. E Matseba indicated that the issue of compliance within the municipalities has caused the Department millions for refurbishment of the sewage works. E Matseba further indicated that MAP should involve COGTA for assistance. L Nqelenga also suggested that MAP should have a plan on what need to T Mphuti be done before meeting with COGTA, T Mphuthi to give feedback in the next forum meeting. T Mopai also to liaise with COGTA on the issues of compliance from the sewage works. 8.6 MAP Water T Mphuthi indicated that the water quality report will be presented in the next forum meeting. T Mphuthi also indicated that most of the pump stations are not working due to vandalism. The maintenance team is currently working at the Harrismith pump T Mphuthi station and feedback will be given in the next forum. T Mphuthi also indicated that the Harrismith abattoir also put more load into the sewage works. T Mopai indicated that MAP should communicate with Harrismith abattoir for their assistance. 8.7 FEZILE DABI DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY No representative attended. 8.8 DETEA FREE STATE No representative attended. 8.9 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH No representative attended. 8.10 DWS-FREE STATE L Mabotja indicated that DWS has drafted non-compliance letters to the municipalities but they are facing internal challenges on finalising them because of the delay from top management.