Another sewage spillage recently in the Berg River near Wellington once again sparked the absolute necessity of keeping the river safe.
The Berg River is a lifeline for many farmers and inhabitants in the valley and beyond.
Some 600 farms rely on the river for, among other things, irrigation purposes.
A 2004 investigation into the quality of Berg River water found it unsuitable for drinking or irrigating edible produce.
Pollution poses a serious threat to the region’s downstream fruit industry and the export of fruit, vegetables and wine to the EU and the US.
There are various factors that contribute towards pollution in the river. Some industries do at times still dump waste into the river.
There is also the problem of informal settlements close to the river with inadequate sewage systems that add to the pollution in the river.
And then information has it that the infrastructure of the waste sewage works near Mbekweni is in dire need of upgrade, but apparently the municipal budget for this falls short.
And with the ever growing population of the valley, the sewage works is just going to be taking more strain than it can carry.
Paarl is one of the few towns in South Africa that can pride itself on having a magnificent river, such as the Berg River, flowing right through it.
But unfortunately this is perhaps the very reason we may be destroying a vital lifeline and ecosystem.
