Durban Enlists uMngeni-uThukela Water to Combat Sewage Crisis

Durban's hopes for cleaner seawater received a significant boost recently when eThekwini Municipality agreed to a partial transfer of control over the city's wastewater treatment facilities to a state-owned water utility. The collaboration with the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board could mark a turning point in a long-standing environmental and public health dilemma.

Following historic floods in April 2022 and years of continuous neglect, several of Durban's biggest sewage treatment plants have been the source of untreated and inadequately treated effluent into surrounding rivers and directly into the Indian Ocean. The partnership, sealed with an initial 12-month contract, envisions the water utility taking joint responsibility for the largest treatment plants, highlighting the pressing need for remedial action.

The emergency repair plan, outlined by water utility chairperson, Professor Vusi Khuzwayo, and eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda, targets 10 local wastewater facilities responsible for processing a vast majority of Durban's sewage output. Notably, the Northern Wastewater Treatment Works, a particularly troubling source of poorly treated water into the uMngeni River, is also included in the arrangement.

Despite positive water quality tests along the central Durban beachfront by Ethekwini officials and the independent Talbot laboratory group, which labeled the seawater 'excellent,' the Umngeni River's pollution problem persists, with E.coli levels measuring in the millions, far above the maximum safe limit for recreational water.

The formal operation of the 10 treatment facilities by uMngeni-uThukela commenced on November 15, 2022. There is an ongoing urgent program to address compliance issues, with technical teams working together on projects and necessary supplies expected to be cleared for delivery by early December. Improvement in compliance levels is anticipated to be evident by that month.

The immediate goals include putting the uMhlanga wastewater plant back in operation post-2022 floods, rehabilitating the Northern works, repairing critical effluent plumbing to uMhlathuzana, and addressing issues in several other facilities. This expansive rehabilitation process could extend up to three years.

Local environmental advocates like Janet Simpkins of Adopt-a-River are cautiously optimistic, eager to see if the agreement lives up to its promise. She and other environmental groups will keep close tabs on the city's progress in improving water quality.

Amidst concerns about a potential increase in costs for Durban residents, uMngeni-uThukela's CFO Thami Mkhwanazi indicated a "costs plus 4%" provision in the contract, suggesting no significant financial burden will be passed on to consumers as a result of the collaboration.

As Durban approaches the festive season, Mayor Kaunda reasserted the commitment to maintaining good water quality for beachgoers, with the continuation of testing initiatives and public safety transparency emphasized during a recent beachfront event.

This unprecedented joint effort between a South African municipality and a state-owned water board may prove to be a template for other cities facing similar environmental crises.