KNYSNA NEWS - "For nearly a year now the municipality has pulled the wool over our eyes, and we just follow blindly like sheep; it's time that we stand up for our lagoon," said an irate Dylan Handel after noticing evidence of further estuary pollution.
On noticing a municipal employee using a pool net in the Ashmead culvert on Monday, May 14, Handel stopped to investigate what was being fished out of the murky water. "It was totally disgusting; there were tampons, ladies' pads and other disgusting things in his net," exclaimed Handel.
An upset Handel further said that he and his five-year-old son had walked along the beach on Leisure Isle two days prior to this and had noticed an octopus on the sand. "We tried to return it to the water but it just would not go back into the water - that is a sign that something is wrong with the water," he said.
He added that being a Leisure Isle resident, he and his family often walk around the Island and notice dead pipefish and other marine organisms on the tidal line. "I have been living in Knysna for the past 27 years and have brought up my son on Leisure Isle. We can no longer take him swimming around the Island on an outgoing tide because he cries afterwards when he gets so itchy from the water," said this exasperated father.
Handel was not the only resident to contact the Knysna-Plett Herald on Monday morning with complaints about possible Knysna Estuary pollution. A second Leisure Isle resident phoned in disgust, explaining that the salt marsh area of the lagoon (alongside George Rex and the Leisure Isle causeway) was littered with, what he termed, toilet paper.
Andre Riley, SANParks area manager in Knysna, was informed of the possible pollution, and eight SANParks rangers were immediately deployed. Riley explained that the Rangers conducted an inter-tidal patrol from leisure Island to George Rex Drive.
Professor Brian Allanson, Knysna resident and aquatic and estuarine ecology specialist, was contacted for his opinion and both he and Riley conducted an inspection of the 'toilet paper'.
Allanson explained that the toilet paper was "nothing of the kind. In Summer I was concerned about the extent of the green macroalgae, Ulva in the estuary. Now it is dying off and once the cells have died and the cell contents dissolved away into the estuary, all that is left is the cellulose skeleton, which is lifted by the tides and scattered round the estuary aided by the wind."
In an article published in this newspaper in October 2011, Allanson explained that the concentration of nutrients released into the tidal waters of the Ashmead Channel, as a result of a sewage spill, had encouraged the rapid growth of the macroalgae. At the time, Allanson explained, "In the pollution event recently, the concentrations of the nutrients released into the tidal waters of the Ashmead Channel encouraged the rapid growth of the macroalgae and they grow so rapidly under these conditions that they cover extensive areas of mud-flat, particularly in the quite warm water of the upper Ashmead Channel."
He further explained that macroalgae, being so light and transportable, are caught on the tips of mud rush and accumulates near the tide lines of the salt marsh near George Rex Drive.
"Slowly, the bacteria will degrade the flat sheets even further and the particles are then swept away to be consumed by the particle-feeding animals of which there are many, for example the mud prawn," he said.
Allanson concluded, "This event, to a lesser or greater extent, occurs every year at about this time."
"I can confirm that all the photos received [of the macroalgae in the marsh area] is that of dry macroalgae, which incidentally at a quick glance do appear to resemble toilet paper," explained Riley.
A retired Knysna engineer, who prefers not to be named, reported that a sewage truck, known as a 'honey-sucker', had been spotted alongside George Rex Drive. When a resident enquired as to the reason for the activity alongside the river, the driver replied that they were busy with maintenance. Allegations were further received that the 'honey-sucker' pumps its load directly into the lagoon when the wastewater treatment works have reached capacity.
A photographer captured toilet paper lying on the grass directly alongside George Rex Drive, close to where the 'honey-sucker' had last been spotted. This photograph was forwarded to the Knysna Municipality along with the allegations made. Unfortunately, no explanation was received at time of going to print.
Municipal Manager Lauren Waring had previously attributed the presence of toilet paper and condoms in the Knysna Estuary to people conducting "their activities illegally at Cathy Park and used condoms/paper/wrappers are then thrown into the reed beds and eventually find their way to the channel". The toilet paper found was on the opposite side of the road, in full view of passing traffic.
"The photo does appear to be of toilet paper. However, I cannot comment on this as it was clearly not taken in the salt marsh," offered Riley.
Following the initial sewage spill into the Knysna Estuary, the Knysna Municipality has been publishing the bacterial load readings taken at various points in the estuary, on its website. These readings have not been updated since March 12.
The minutes of the latest estuary pollution forum meetings were requested from the municipality. At time of going to print, these have not been received.
The Knysna Municipality held an emergency meeting to discuss pollution-related matters on Wednesday morning, May 16, as the Knysna-Plett Herald was being print-readied. A municipal spokesperson indicated that the municipality would provide comprehensive answers to the issues of concern in time for next week's newspaper.
ARTICLE: FRAN KIRSTEN, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
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