A river of sewage that used to cover an entire street in the industrial area of Louis Trichardt now flows in a trench just beside the street and still poses a serious health hazard.

The newly channelled "river" flows near the industrial pump station in the vicinity of the South African Breweries depot. Executive members of the Soutpansberg Ratepayers Association (SRPA) recently visited the site and expressed their grave concern.

“Look at the fast pace that this river of sewage is flowing,” SRPA manager Aretha Smith said.

From here, the sewage flows past the existing waste water treatment (WWT) plant into a dam along the Sinthumule/Kutama road. Drinking water for a part of town comes from the boreholes in this vicinity.

What is going to happen to this sewerage river with the potential threats it holds? There is, however, a light flickering at the end of the tunnel: The new WWTplant is nearly 40% finished in terms of the civil engineering aspects. “The cost to take the sewage from the industrial pump station, known as the ‘breweries’ pump station, directly to the new plant is being investigated,” the residential engineer of Worley Parsons, Mr Connie Vlok, said.

There is a probability that the cost can be covered under the current WWT project. The railway crossing of the sewage is already included in the project and will be done during April and May.  Spoornet has already consented to the laying of the pipes through the railway reserve area. The sewage will cross underneath the railway line on the southern side of the breweries. If the total sewage spillage area can be covered  and diverted directly to the new plant, the infamous industrial pump station will be closed down. This station has cost millions to upgrade, just to be neglected instead of maintained.

“One should always look at more underground pipelines and fewer pump stations,” said Vlok.

The new WWT will handle sewerage from the industrial area, Extension 8, Eltivillas, the maximum security prison and Tshikota. The existing plant, which has been upgraded at a cost of R11.5 million, will handle the town’s sewerage.  The new WWT could be functioning by the end of this year if the mechanical and electrical work is completed and there is sufficient electricity to run the plant. The total cost of the new WWT plant could reach R70m.

Efforts have been made since 3 March to get the Makhado Municipality to explain the interim plans regarding the sewage river near the breweries while the new WWT is being completed. It seems that the local municipality is no longer prepared to answer questions on sewage.

“For the sewerage stuff, contact the Vhembe District Municipality. It is their project,” was the answer of the municipal spokesperson, Louis Bobodi, on 13 March.

The questions on sewage were redirected to the VDM. Questions on problems with the water supply that had been directed to the VDM in February have still not been answered.