The Knysna Municipality says it is addressing the pollution within the estuary.
Acting Municipal Manager, Lauren Waring, says expert opinion suggest that the pollution in the Knysna estuary is a historical problem faced by many towns situated on estuaries and other bodies of water.
She says a specialist in acquatic systems, Professor Brian Allanson, says because the greater Knysna remains unswered, material from high-lying areas enters the natural catchment and drainage areas which leads into the Knysna basin and ultimately into the estuary.
Waring says money is now required for a study will be conducted to establish not just the sources but areas of pollution in the estuary.
Below is the unedited statement as received from the Knysna Municipality
27 January 2012
Knysna Municipality finding long term solutions to historical problem of estuarine pollution
According to Acting Municipal Manager Lauren Waring, Knysna Municipality is addressing the pollution within the estuary. "Due their extensive knowledge of the reticulation systems, Stuart Scott International Consulting Engineers (SSI) was approached to provide Council with a clear strategic plan with remedial recommendations regarding the problem of pollution within the estuary."
Professor Brian Allanson (Allanson Associates cc, Specialists in Aquatic Systems: estuaries, rivers & lakes), explained that this is a historical problem faced by many towns, especially those situated on estuaries or other bodies of water. "As the greater part of Knysna remains unsewered, material from the surrounding high-lying areas enters the natural catchment- and drainage areas which lead into the Knysna basin and, eventually, the estuary," Said Allanson.
Waring explained that more than forty new sampling points were identified; some within the estuary and the rest within these areas that may be possible sources of pollution in the estuary. "This exercise will allow us to identify not only the sources, but also the areas of estuary pollution. SSI's plan will include clear time frames and actual costs in the resolution of this problem."
"For this study to be initiated, an amount of R250 000 is urgently required," Waring explained. "External funding will also be sought once the extent of the action and required finances are determined."
"These recommendations, tabled at the council meeting held on Thursday 26 January, were accepted by Council."
"The SSI team includes a GIS specialist, a technician, a project manager, project principal and an estuarine specialist and a sampling team," said Waring. "This team will work closely with the Estuary Pollution Task Team (EPTT), consisting of delegates from Knysna Municipality, Eden District Municipality and SANParks. This task team is a permanent feature that also reports to the Department of Water Affairs and the Knysna Water Forum."
Executive Mayor Georlene Wolmarans reconfirmed that the municipality was committed to remedying the situation in the short- as well as long term. "We realise that we are dealing with a historical problem which will only worsen if we do nothing."
"We have a responsibility to our natural environment to ensure that our human development does not cause irreparable damage to the natural systems around us," Wolmarans concluded. "Unfortunately this problem has been intensifying for decades, but we have to commit to saving that which makes Knysna special - our beautiful natural playground. Now we have a set plan to accomplish this task."
